UN Libya envoy Salame steps down

TRIPOLI: The UN’s envoy to war-plagued Libya, Ghassan Salame, has announced his resignation citing health reasons, nearly three years after taking up the post. “I tried to unite Libyans and restrain foreign interference... but for health reasons I can no longer continue with this level of stress and therefore I have asked the (UN) secretary-general to relieve me of my duties,” Salame tweeted. He added that he wished Libyans “peace and stability”. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had received a message from Salame “expressing his intention to leave his post”. “The secretary-general has always had full confidence in Salame’s work and the great efforts he has made to bring peace to Libya... (and) will be discussing with Salame the way to ensure smooth transition so as not to lose any momentum on the gains that have been made,” Dujarric told reporters in New York. Salame’s job had involved efforts to bring an end to years of turmoil since the 2011, which left Libya divided between rival governments and beset by violence. His resignation comes after months of work to bring about a ceasefire since eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive in April to seize the capital Tripoli, seat of the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). The unity government is supported by Turkey, while Haftar is backed by UN Security Council permanent member Russia — two countries that also back opposing sides in Syria’s conflict. Salame, a former Lebanese culture minister, was appointed UN envoy in June 2017 and has struggled to unify Libyan ranks, organise elections and bring rival parties together for talks on ending the conflict. Earlier this year the rivals agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia that went into effect on January 12, but there have been repeated violations. Political talks were due to start in Geneva last week but both sides refused to attend. The talks were to run in tandem with military and economic negotiations as part of a UN-sponsored dialogue aimed at resolving the conflict.— Reuters