Libya

Around 300 foreign mercenaries have left eastern Libya, the French Foreign Ministry said, as it welcomed the start of the gradual withdrawal of thousands of foreign forces that have fought on both sides of the conflict in the country.

Libya's parliament said Friday's planned presidential election would not go ahead, leaving the internationally-backed peace process in chaos and the fate of the interim government in doubt. The electoral commission proposed pushing back the voting date by a month, confirming a delay that had been widely expected amid disputes over the rules, including the eligibility of several divisive candidates.

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Tuesday expressed concern over the unfolding security situation in the capital, Tripoli, where forces affiliated with different armed groups have been deploying.  The development came as Libyans awaited news about the postponement of long-promised landmark elections, due to take place on Friday. 

The chances of Libya staging its first presidential elections on the long-planned-for date of 24 December appear close to collapse after the body overseeing the vote said it was unable to announce the approved candidates because of continued legal doubts.

High State Council (HSC) has called for a December 24 presidential election to be delayed to February amid growing jostling over the rules and legal basis of a vote aimed at ending a decade of instability.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Stephanie Williams of the United States as his Special Adviser on Libya.  She will lead good offices and mediation efforts and engagements with Libyan regional and international stakeholders to pursue implementation of the three intra-Libyan dialogue tracks - political, security and economic - and support the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya. 

The son of Libya's late ruler is now eligible to run as a candidate in the 24 December polls, a southern court has ruled.

Minister of Interior Khaled Mazen has warned that the situation is no longer acceptable for the electoral process to proceed, as he referred to the failure of the Sabha Court to consider the appeals brought to it due to security threats, which puts the elections security plan at risk.

Libya's electoral commission on Wednesday announced its rejection of the candidacy of Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi, to run in next month's presidential election.

The U.N. Security Council threatened sanctions Wednesday against spoilers in Libya’s presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December 24.