Italy on Tuesday welcomed an announcement that Libya's rival factions have agreed on a 32-member unity cabinet in a bid to end the turmoil that has engulfed the North African country since late dictator Muammar Gaddafi's ouster in 2011.
"This is a major step forward in a situation that remains extremely fragile. Now we need a parliamentary okay," tweeted Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni.
Earlier, the United Nations special envoy to Libya Martin Kobler hailed the unity cabinet announced by the country's Unity Presidential Council.
The council includes representatives from Libya’s two rival parliaments, the Islamist-backed one based in the capital, Tripoli, and the internationally recognised parliament which currently sits in the eastern city of Tobruk. It meets in neighbouring Tunisia.
Libya's unity cabinet will be led by businessman Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj, who has been appointed prime minister.
Some members of Libya's main factions have rejected the UN-brokered process to form a unity cabinet. Many observers question if the cabinet will be able to govern the oil-rich north African country where Islamic State militants have grown in strength amid a range of armed factions.
IS militants now control the city of Sirte, are targeting Tripoli and the country’s oil infrastructure and have carried out deadly attacks.
Rome will on 2 February host a summit of ministers from countries taking part in the international coalition against IS, Gentiloni said on Monday. The conference will review the situation in Libya, Syria and Iraq and follows earlier meetings held in London, Paris and Brussels.
