Libya's unity leader promises to 'turn the page' after arrival in capital

Fayez al-Sarraj sets up temporary seat of power in naval base but faces immediate calls to leave or hand himself in from rival Tripoli authorities

Wednesday 30 March 2016

The leader of Libya's unity government has arrived in Tripoli, promising to "turn the page" on the country's troubled post-Gaddafi era despite opposition to its authority from two rival parliaments already vying for control.

Fayez al-Sarraj, named prime minister-designate under a UN-brokered power-sharing deal, arrived from Tunisia on Wednesday with six deputies to set up a temporary seat of power in a naval base despite threats from competing factions.

The six deputies are members of the Presidential Council, which was established based on a UN-mediated deal signed by splintered groups from the two parliaments last year. The council formed the new unity government headed by Sarraj.

But Sarraj faced immediate challenges to his authority with Khalifa Ghweil, the prime minister of Tripoli's General National Congress, calling his government illegal and urging Sarraj to leave or hand himself in.

Sarraj and other officials were prevented from flying into Tripoli by a rival parliament based in the capital, with authorities even closing the airspace several times to prevent them flying in.

A third parliament, based in Tobruk in the east, also has not ratified the UN-backed administration.

"It is time for all of us as Libyans to work together for the sake of Libya," Sarraj said upon his arrival, according to his government's Facebook page.

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