UNITED NATIONS, October 11 (RIA Novosti) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Libyan political forces to cease clashes during a surprise stop in Libya's Tripoli on Saturday.
"If violent confrontations do not cease immediately, if sustainable peace is not restored, prosperity and a better life will be a distant dream. This is what hangs in the balance today for the future of Libya," Ban told Libyan parliamentarians.
Noting that a cessation of violence must precede political talks, Ban stressed that Libya needs both strong government and parliament, stressing that the "first priority is that fighting must stop. Then, sit down together to address the root causes."
The UN chief concluded by pledging support to Libya's elected parliament.
Libya's parliament with Prime Minister Abdullah Thani has been driven out of Tripoli by the forces supporting the pro-Islamic General National Congress.
Libya is currently facing its worst wave of violence since the 2011 toppling of Muammar Gaddafi and the subsequent civil war. The country has since seen violent clashes between numerous militias, armed with weapons seized from Gaddafi's governmental ammunition depots. According to Libya Body Count data, more than 1,100 people have been killed in Libya in 2014.
