Tripoli-Based Libya Ministers Ready to Back Presidential Council

Tripoli Oil Minister Mashallah Zwai said that National Salvation Government is committed to a peaceful solution and civilized transfer of government functions.

CAIRO (Sputnik) – A number of Libyan ministers with the Tripoli-based government met with the UN-backed national unity government and expressed readiness to support its leader, Tripoli Oil Minister Mashallah Zwai told Sputnik on Thursday.

Interim government Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj arrived in Tripoli with several members of the UN-backed Presidential Council late in March. The self-proclaimed General National Congress (GNC or National Salvation Government) based in the Libyan capital announced on Wednesday it would step down.

"We are committed to a peaceful solution and civilized transfer of government functions. We did meet the Presidential Council and affirmed our full readiness to cooperate with it and to interact in a positive way after parliament gives its consent," Zwai said.

GNC Prime Minister Khalifa Ghawi reportedly refused to hand the reigns to the interim government, contradicting the GNC’s announcement and throwing the UN-backed body into disarray.

The self-proclaimed Tripoli government has been rivaled by the internationally recognized Council of Deputies in the eastern town of Tobruk that won a parliamentary majority at the June 2014 elections.

In December, the rival sides agreed to create a Government of National Accord to end the political struggle.