Libya parliament ‘suspends’ participation in peace talks

Libya’s internationally recognised parliament on Monday suspended its participation in UN-brokered talks on the future of the war-wracked North African state, AFP reports.

“The chamber of representatives today voted in favour of suspending its participation in the dialogue” in which a new round had been due on Morocco on Thursday, MP Issa al-Aribi announced on Facebook.

He did not elaborate, but both the LANA state news agency and parliament’s own Facebook page confirmed the information.

AFP said that the Libyan parliament based its decision on “last Friday's terrorist attacks in Al-Qoba which killed or wounded dozens of people".

The Islamic State jihadist group said it was behind suicide car bombings that the health ministry said killed 40 people, including six Egyptians, in the eastern town.

Another parliamentarian, speaking on condition of anonymity with AFP, said the decision to pull out of talks was taken over fears that the international community would exert pressure to include Islamists in a future unity government.