Libya is closer to resolving its crisis ― Guterres

The United Nations (UN) secretary general, Antonio Guterres, has said Libya is closer to resolving its internal crisis and breaking the cycle of political transitions.

He said this Friday that the war-torn country today is clear than it has been for many years to solving the crisis.

"I urge all those with power and influence over the situation to put the nation's wellbeing and prosperity ahead of their own personal interests," he said in a tweet.

Reuters news agency says world powers have today said in France that they will push for sanctions against anyone who disrupts Libya's electoral process and political transition, according to draft conclusions of a conference.

The meeting, which included the leaders of France, Libya, Germany and Egypt, as well as the U.S. vice president, was aimed at cementing world backing for the planned vote on December 24 and efforts to remove foreign forces.

Reuters says the elections are envisaged as a key moment in a U.N.-backed peace process to end a decade of violent chaos that has drawn in regional powers and undermined Mediterranean stability since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.

The news agency reports that the votes for a new president and parliament are still in doubt with six weeks to go amid disputes between rival eastern and western Libyan factions and political bodies over the rules underpinning the electoral schedule and who can run.