UN urges Libyans to back political solution agreed by rivals

The U.N. Security Council has welcomed this week’s meeting of rival Libyan leaders and is urging all Libyans to support a negotiated political solution, national reconciliation and an immediate cease-fire.

French President Emmanuel Marcron hosted a meeting Tuesday at which Libyan President Fayez Al Sarraj and military leader Gen. Khalifa Haftar committed themselves to a cease-fire. They also agreed to work toward presidential and parliamentary elections and to find a roadmap for securing their lawless country against terrorism and trafficking.

The Security Council underscored the importance of the U.N.’s central role in facilitating a Libyan-led political dialogue and welcomed new U.N. envoy Ghassan Salame. It said in a statement Thursday that it looks forward “to supporting his efforts to facilitate a political solution in Libya.”