AU hosts Libya Reconciliation Conference

The African Union will hold a "reconciliation" conference in July in a bid to unite Libyan political rivals, the head of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki, said Saturday.

"This is an opportunity for Libyans," Faki said at a press conference in Tunis on the sidelines of the Arab League summit in the Tunisian capital.

The announcement of the July talks in Addis Ababa was held following a meeting on Libya that was attended by Faki, Antonio Guterres, UN chief, and European diplomat Federica Mogherini.

"It is high time for (political) actors to discuss the fate of their country," Faki said.

Libya is plunged into chaos since the ousting of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011 and a string of international efforts have so far failed to unify the country.

The UN is scheduled to hold another conference next month in the Lebanese city of Ghadames, in central Libya, with the aim of preparing a "road map" for leading elections.

Between 120 and 150 delegates are expected to attend the forum from April 14 to 16, announced UN envoy Ghbadan Salame earlier this month.

The UN supports a national Accord government in the capital Tripoli, while a rival administration in the east is supported by Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan national army.

Achieving a lasting agreement is considered essential to create stability in the country and to revive the economy.