NEWS: LYBIA - Long-awaited breakthrough in Libya's political deadlock

Libya's bitter political rivals have signed an agreement aimed at resolving the country's deep political crisis with elections to be held within two years.

A declaration announced on Sunday said the Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC) and the internationally recognised Tobruk-based House of Representatives also agreed to form a 10-member committee to help choose a government of national reconciliation.
The conflict between the two powerful factions erupted more than a year ago when they set up rival governments and parliaments in a battle for control of the oil-rich North African nation.


GNC and House of Representatives politicians are expected to name an interim president and a deputy within two weeks.
The agreement comes ahead of UN-brokered peace talks to be held in Rome on December 13.

Rise of ISIL
The United States, EU members and Middle Eastern countries will take part in the summit as concern rises about the growing influence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in central Libya.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said there is an increasing risk of Libya becoming a haven for ISIL, even as Western nations target the group in Iraq and Syria with air strikes.

"We see foreign jihadists arriving in the region of Syrte [northern Libya] who - if our operations in Syria and Iraq succeed in reducing the territorial reach of Daesh [ISIL] - could tomorrow be more numerous," Le Drian told the Jeune Afrique weekly, which was published on Sunday. (UN says ISIL exploiting Libya security vacuum) 

Le Drian ruled out military intervention in Libya but warned the West had to try to foster Libyan unity in the face of such a threat.

"It is a major risk and that's why there absolutely must be understanding between the Libyans," said Le Drian.

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