Libya's Presidential Council has announced a new government of national accord aimed at uniting the country's warring factions under a UN-backed plan.
The Tunis-based council had pushed back the deadline for naming the government by 48 hours, amid reports of disputes over the distribution of ministerial posts, before Tuesday's announcement came.

Only seven of the council's nine members had signed the document, which named a total of 32 ministers. One female minister was named.
Libya has become deeply fractured since two rival governments were formed in the summer of 2014, with one operating from the capital Tripoli and the other from the eastern city of Tobruk.

Many members of Libya's competing parliaments did not back the agreement, and critics say the plan does not evenly represent all the country's groups and factions.

The agreement still has to be approved by the House of Representatives in Tobruk (which has 10 days to endorse the news government) as well as the General National Congress in Tripoli, which remains divided over the issue.

PHOTO CAPTION

The UN envoy for Libya, Martin Kobler speaks during a press conference following a meeting with the members of Libya's General National Congress on January 1, 2016 at Tripoli Metiga military airport (AFP Photo)

Al-Jazeera