Libya crisis: Rome talks hope to produce unity

Talks are under way in Italy in the hope of getting Libya’s rival factions to establish a unity government and bring a halt to months of chaos.  The country has two rival governments – one in Tripoli, another in the east. But there is growing concern that the Islamic State group (IS), with a stronghold […]

Talks are under way in Italy in the hope of getting Libya’s rival factions to establish a unity government and bring a halt to months of chaos.  The country has two rival governments – one in Tripoli, another in the east.
But there is growing concern that the Islamic State group (IS), with a stronghold in the city of Sirte, is profiting from the instability.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is among those at the talks pushing the rival groups to implement a UN plan.
Delegates from the two opposing administrations, which are backed by militia groups, agreed after months of talks at a meeting in Tunis on Friday on a date – 16 December – to sign an accord on the unity government.
However, it is unclear how much support in Libya they will have for doing so.
Neither of the opposing parliaments in Tripoli and the east has voted to adopt the plan, but it is believed it could be signed in Rome without a formal vote in Libya.