The United Nations urged domestic and international support for a Libyan unity government formed Tuesday under a U.N.-brokered deal aimed at ending years of instability. U.N. Libya envoy Martin Kobler urged the country's internationally recognized parliament, the House of Representatives, to "promptly convene" and endorse the unity government, while world powers appealed to the country's rival parliaments to support the new executive administration to break political paralysis that has provided a safe haven for radical militants. The unity government, headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, who was named prime minister-designate under the U.N.-brokered accord, comprises 32 ministers. Two-thirds of the legislature must approve the new administration within 10 days so that it can begin carrying out its work. However, it remains unclear whether the new Libyan leaders have wide support from the two warring sides. Less than half the members of the two parliaments signed on to the U.N.-sponsored agreement last month. On December 17, about 80 of 188 lawmakers from Libya's internationally recognized parliament and 50 of 136 members of the Tripoli-based General National Congress signed the U.N.-brokered unity-government agreement.
