International conference in Algeria to discuss Libyan issue

Algeria announced yesterday that several North African countries would hold the seventh conference in Algiers to discuss the latest developments in Libya.

The Algerian Minister of Maghreb Affairs, African Union and Arab League Abdelkader Messahel said that the conference is due to be held on Tuesday.

“As previous ones, this meeting will allow the neighbouring countries and representatives of regional and international organisations to inquire about the situation in Libya and the region and analyse the latest developments,” Messahel said.

He added: “It is an opportunity for Algeria to reiterate its support to the ongoing process sponsored by the UN to speed up the formation of a national unity government, which is able to complete the transitional period and take up the multiple challenges facing the country, particularly terrorism.”

The previous conference was held in the Chadian capital of N’Djamena last June.

The countries and organisations due to take part in this conference are Egypt, Sudan, Niger, Chad, African Union, Arab League and the EU, in addition to Libya and the UN envoy to Libya Martin Coupler.

On Saturday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced that there is no exact timeframe set to form a national unity government in Libya to resolve the civil conflict that has raged the country since the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.