The UN has called for holding a session of Libya’s parliament for a vote of confidence in a unified government as scheduled, in spite reports that the interim prime minister was elected through bribery.
The parliament is scheduled to meet in the Libyan city of Sirte on March 8 for the confidence vote.
In December, delegates from Libya’s rival factions elected Abdul-Hamid Dbeibeh as interim premier and Mohammed Menfi as head of a three-man Presidency Council in a UN-hosted process in Switzerland.
British newspaper The Guardian on Tuesday reported that a UN inquiry report found that Dbeibeh allegedly gained power after his supporters offered bribes as high as 200,000 dollars to attract votes.
The UN report is due to be published on March 15 after an investigation into the allegations of bribery was demanded by the then acting UN Special Envoy for Libya, Stephanie Williams.
Dbeibeh’s office has described the claims as fake news designed to disrupt the political process.
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) “and its partners strongly encourage the parliament to meet as scheduled to discuss and consider the vote of confidence to the Cabinet to be proposed by the prime minister designate,” the mission said.
“They also encourage the PM-designate to present the line-up of the government without further delay,” it added in a statement.
Commenting on the bribery allegations, the mission said that the UN Panel of Experts, cited by the media reports, is a separate entity completely independent from UNSMIL.
It stressed that it does not receive the reports of the panel, including its latest report, and is, therefore, not in a position to comment on it.
Dbeibeh’s government is expected to run Libya until elections on Dec. 24.
Libya has been in turmoil since long-time ruler Moamer Gaddafi was toppled in 2011.
The oil-rich country has become a proxy battleground for rival forces and foreign powers. (dpa/NAN)
