Libya's internationally recognised parliament on Monday voted no confidence in a UN-backed unity government, in a blow to efforts to end the country's political chaos. The Government of National Accord (GNA) led by prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj is struggling to assert its authority in the North African nation, which has been riven by turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
National support for the GNA is seen as crucial to restoring stability and to tackling the Libyan branch of the Islamic State group, which pro-GNA forces are battling in the jihadists' coastal stronghold of Sirte. But at a session on Monday, the House of Representatives, Libya's recognised legislature based in the far east, refused to give its support to the GNA. "The majority of lawmakers present at the parliament session voted no confidence in the government," said Adam Boussakhra, parliament's spokesman.
Parliament speaker Aguila Saleh as well as 101 lawmakers attended Monday's vote, the House of Representatives said on its website. Sixty-one parliamentarians rejected the GNA, it said, 39 abstained from voting and a lone parliamentarian voted confidence in the government.
The unity government was the result of a UN-brokered power-sharing deal struck in December, but has struggled to unite the divided North African country and fully assert its authority. A rival government in the country's east has refused to cede power until the House of Representatives passes a vote of confidence, which has been repeatedly delayed including over a lack of quorum. Monday's vote was "the first time quorum has been reached in five months," Boussakhra said.