French foreign minister tells Libya's factions to respect UN talks

BENGHAZI, Libya – France told the leaders of Libya's rival factions there was no alternative to UN talks to stabilize the oil producer and prepare for elections in 2018, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday.

The North African country has two rival governments, one in the east and a UN-backed administration in the capital Tripoli in the west, in a conflict stemming from the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The United Nations launched a new round of talks in September in Tunis between the rival factions to prepare for presidential and parliamentary elections in spring, but they broke off after one month.