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The hard-won gathering in the remote oasis town of Ghadames was the fruit of marathon shuttle diplomacy between the two sides by UN mission chief Bernardino Leon

UN Special Envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon (First row 4-L) stands with members of the Libyan House of Representatives and Libyan parliamentarians who have boycotted its sessions, as they release doves after their meeting in the town of Ghadames, Southern Libya, 29 September 2014. Farouk Atig/EPA

TRIPOLI, Libya Opposing factions in the Libyan parliament met Monday, September 29, for UN-brokered talks aimed at ending a split which has left the violence-plagued country with rival governments.

The hard-won gathering in the remote oasis town of Ghadames, confirmed only on Sunday night, September 28, was the fruit of marathon shuttle diplomacy between the two sides by UN mission chief Bernardino Leon.

The meeting, which finally started at 3 pm (1300 GMT) after a five-hour delay, was "an historic day for Libya" and sent "a strong message of unity to the Libyan people", Leon said in an opening address.

Government representatives from Britain and Malta, Libya's close Mediterranean neighbor, attended the meeting which was being held behind closed doors.

The majority faction in the legislature elected on June 25 has been meeting in the far eastern town of Tobruk near the border with Egypt since Islamist militia and their allies took control of most of the capital last month.

The minority faction stayed in Tripoli and has boycotted the Tobruk sessions.

Twelve delegates from each side were to take part in Monday's talks in Ghadames, 600 km (370 miles) southwest of Tripoli and close to the Algerian and Tunisian borders, parliament spokesman Fraj Abu Hashem told Agence France-Presse before the meeting.

The Tobruk-based government of Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani is internationally recognized but Libya's three main cities are almost entirely outside its control.

Original post:
Libya rivals hold UN-brokered reconciliation talks