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Libyan leaders meet in France for major peace conference

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Libyan rival leaders are meeting in Paris, France, for a major peace conference backed by France to push for a political settlement in that country.

But many analysts are sceptical that the initiative to invite four senior figures representing Libya’s factions, as well as neighbouring countries and regional powers, could lead to significant progress.

Years of mediation by the United Nations, as well as former colonial power Italy; have failed to bring stability to the North African nation which descended into chaos after the ousting of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

The main focus of the meeting will be on trying to agree a political roadmap committing all parties to hold parliamentary and presidential elections before the end of the year an approach.

There are also disagreements over whether a vote on a new constitution, or elections for the presidency and parliament, should come first.

While the Italians, Turkish, and Qataris to a large extent the Americans believe the constitution comes before elections, on the other side, the French, Egyptians and Emiratis want elections first.

The Libyan invitees include Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the Un-backed unity government in Tripoli, Khalifa Haftar, whose rival Libyan National Army dominates the country’s east.

There are also representatives from around 20 countries involved in the Libya crisis who have been invited.

These include Egypt and Russia. Neighbours Algeria and Tunisia and West African leaders from Niger and Congo will also attend.

European leaders see stabilising Libya as key to tackling jihadist threats and migration from the country which has become a departure point for hundreds of thousands of Africans trying to reach Europe.

The Crisis Group, an NGO that studies conflict zones, has voiced caution about the French conference.

It says much more work remains to be done for a peace building effort in Libya to succeed. And for that, it believes that France should not request that its four Libyan guests sign an accord.

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