Libyan leaders leave peace negotiations
ABENGHAZI, Libya – UN-brokered negotiations aimed at stemming Libya’s collapse into a failed state threatened to fall apart after the country’s internationally recognized parliament Tuesday dropped out of the talks in protest over a plan that would mean sharing power with its rivals.
The wrangling over the draft plan came as militants from the North African nation’s Islamic State affiliate seized new territory, inching closer to a major city and oil terminals, virtually Libya’s sole source of state revenues.
The threat of the Islamic State group, which already holds two cities and several towns in Libya, is one of the factors fueling the United Nations’ push to resolve the country’s chronic chaos.
Turkish government steps down after vote
ANKARA, Turkey – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office says he has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s government to allow for the formation of a new government after his ruling party lost its parliamentary majority in a national vote.
Erdogan is now expected to give Davutoglu the task of forming a coalition government.
Opposition parties have vowed to resist any pact with the ruling party. They are likely to demand limitations on Erdogan’s role in government, complicating any coalition talks.
Tuesday’s resignation is part of the political custom, and the government will stay in office until a new one is set up.
Associated Press
