UN proposes unity government in Libya

The UN envoy for Libya has announced a national unity government for Libya after months of talks between the North African country's two rival governments.

Bernardino Leon told reporters late on Thursday that the names of candidates for the national unity government have been decided.

Leon said the prime minister for the new government is Fayez Sarraj, a member of the Tripoli-based administration.

"We believe this list can work," Leon said of the names, which include three deputies for the prime minister - representing the country's east, west and south - and two ministers to complete a presidential council. The deputies were named as Fathi al Magbiri, Musa al Kunni and Ahmed Maiteeq .

"All of them will work as a team," Leon said. He added, "This was not an easy task."

Libya has had rival administrations since August last year, when an alliance of militias from the city of Misrata known as Libya Dawn took over the capital, Tripoli.

The group drove out the internationally-recognised government, which now operates in the eastern city of Tobruk.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the proposal of a unity government in a statement issued by his media office, while urging the parties to accept and sign the agreement.

The statement said Ban "urges Libyan leaders not to squander this opportunity to put the country back on the path to building a state that reflects the spirit and ambitions of the 2011 revolution".

The foreign policy chief of the European Union, Federica Mogherini, also welcomed the announcement.