ROME: (From left) US Secretary of State John Kerry, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya Martin Kobler wait for the start of a conference on Libya at the Italian Foreign Ministry headquarters. — AP

ROME: Major powers and regional players yesterday pressed Libya's divided political factions to back a UN peace plan based on the formation of a national unity government. US Secretary of State John Kerry was among ministers from 20 countries at a Rome conference aimed at maximizing the pressure to end the chaos that has engulfed the North African state since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi.

"Conflict and instability in Libya have gone on for too long. Broad participation here reflects international support for unified, secure and stable Libya," Kerry said, in a tweet from inside the meeting. "We need to lay groundwork for a unified government in Libya to bring the country together and respect rights, interests of all Libyans."

The ministers were joined in the afternoon by 15 Libyan officials representing political factions in the country's rival parliaments, an internationally-recognized one based in Tobruk and an Islamist-backed assembly in the capital Tripoli. The Libyan delegates included at least four members of the Tripoli-based parliament and three from its Tobruk rival, along with other political figures.

Representatives of both assemblies have tentatively agreed to sign the UN plan in Morocco on Wednesday but there are doubts about whether they can carry their supporters with them. The accelerated diplomacy reflects fears in Western capitals that instability in Libya will allow the Islamic State group to expand its presence beyond a small section of coastline it currently controls around the city of Sirte.

Anarchy in Libya has also given people traffickers a free hand to use the country as a launch pad from which hundreds of thousands of migrants have been sent to Europe in the last two years. European governments want that route closed off amid fears a looming humanitarian crisis in Libya could accelerate the flux.

"Today the international community is unanimously demanding a national unity government in Libya," France's representative at the talks, Harlem Desir, told reporters. "We cannot accept a situation of political chaos where terrorism thrives. It is a threat to the security of the region and to Europe."

'An irresponsible bet'

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni had billed the Rome talks in similar terms, describing an urgent need to "demonstrate that the action of governments and diplomacy can be faster and more effective than the threat of terrorism." But there is pessimism among many Libya-watchers about the prospects of a new administration leading to sustainable peace.

Former Italian foreign minister Emma Bonino and the head of International Crisis Group Jean-Marie Guehenno called the rush towards a Wednesday signing "an irresponsible bet." Writing in Politico, the pair said it is "wishful thinking" to believe a majority of Libyans will back a foreign-backed sole national authority.

Under current security conditions it is unlikely, they argue, that such a government could even enter Tripoli safely. "This means they will have no control over state administration, including the pivotal central bank," they wrote. "It could trigger renewed fighting for control of the capital."

And any attempt, whether failed or successful, to restore authority to Tripoli could feed separatist rumblings in eastern Libya, they warn. Alison Pargeter, of Britain's Royal United Services Institute, said: "It is difficult to be optimistic. "The country needs a proper reconciliation process. At the moment the largest tribes are outside the process. Because they were pro-Kadhafi, they are completely on the sidelines."

Protests against accord

Saleh El-Makhzoum, a member of the parliamentary body based in Tripoli, said Friday that an agreement establishing a Government of National Accord would be signed on December 16. And an official of the rival but internationally-recognized parliament, Mohammed Choueib, said "we have decided to move beyond this difficult period and ask everyone to join us." But neither man could promise their colleagues in Tripoli or Tobruk would ratify the deal, under which Libya would be governed by a nine-member presidential council.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Tripoli's main square on Friday afternoon, waving Libyan flags and holding signs calling for a rejection of the UN deal. Libya has had rival administrations since August 2014, when an Islamist-backed militia alliance overran Tripoli, forcing the government to take refuge in the east.

US and European sources say the aim is to form a unity government within 40 days of Wednesday's signature, after which UN sanctions could be imposed to force an accord. If the deal sticks, it would enable Libya to better govern itself and to fight the IS fighters that have seized territory around Kadhafi's hometown Sirte. It would also allow a UN-recognized administration to request arms shipments and even foreign military intervention to help rid itself of the insurgents. Italian premier Matteo Renzi has said Rome would command a military mission should the UN agree, and there have been reports France and Britain are ready to take part. - AFP