Libya speaker flags March 8 for government confidence vote

Libya speaker flags March 8 for government confidence vote

TRIPOLI: The Libyan parliament will discuss holding a vote of confidence on a new unified government for the divided country on March 8, its powerful speaker Aguila Saleh said. Oil-rich Libya has been mired in chaos since dictator Muammar Qaddafi was ousted and killed in a popular uprising backed by a NATO air campaign a decade ago. Its Government of National Accord (GNA) is based in Tripoli, while eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar supports a parallel administration based in the east. "Parliament will convene to discuss a vote of confidence on the government on Monday, March 8, at 11 am in Sirte if the 5+5 Joint Military Commission guarantees the security of the meeting," Saleh said in a statement late Friday, referring to a city halfway between east and west. The military commission is a forum bringing together five representatives from each side. "If that proves impossible, the session will be held in the temporary seat of parliament in Tobruk at the same date and time," he said, adding that the military committee would need to advise the parliament in advance. It was unclear whether the vote itself would take place on March 8 or whether the meeting would be limited