Libya rivals in decisive UN-brokered peace talks

Skhirat (Morocco) (AFP) - UN envoy Bernardino Leon on Thursday shuttled between delegates of Libya's rival parliaments in Morocco as he pushed for a unity government to stem growing unrest in their country.

Libya has been divided since the 2011 uprising that toppled dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival governments and parliaments and armed groups battling for control of its cities and oil wealth.

The talks started a day after an air strike blamed on the internationally-recognised government hit an air base controlled by the rival administration.

Leon has repeatedly urged both sides to set aside differences. "The patience of Libyans is finished and the patience of the international community is finished," he warned Wednesday.

He called on the rival negotiating teams to thrash out the full details of a unity government, including the names of ministers, to replace the rival administrations.

On Thursday morning, he met delegates from the elected parliament and was later due to meet their rivals, an AFP journalist said.

"We are trying to adopt a positive approach," said Issa Abdelkayoum, spokesman for the elected parliament.

"There are people from the other side who don't have much to propose and who are playing for time," he added, without further details.

Leon warned Wednesday as delegates gathered in the Moroccan resort of Skhirat that this round of talks could be the last.

"I really hope that the negotiators that are coming today are understanding that we cannot wait any more and this will really be the final round," Leon said.