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United Nations envoy announces national unity government for Libya, after months of talks

Associated Press
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United Nations envoy for Libya Bernardino Leon, right, gestures as he makes an announcement to the media in Skhirat, Morocco, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. The U.N. envoy for Libya has proposed a national unity government for Libya after months of difficult talks between the north African country's two rival governments, but now it's up to the two sides and Libyans themselves to approve it. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar) (The Associated Press)

United Nations envoy for Libya Bernardino Leon, center, makes an announcement to the media in Skhirat, Morocco, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. The U.N. envoy for Libya has proposed a national unity government for Libya after months of difficult talks between the north African country's two rival governments, but now it's up to the two sides and Libyans themselves to approve it. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar) (The Associated Press)

United Nations envoy for Libya Bernardino Leon speaks to the media in Skhirat, Morocco, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. The U.N. envoy for Libya has proposed a national unity government for Libya after months of difficult talks between the north African country's two rival governments, but now it's up to the two sides and Libyans themselves to approve it. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar) (The Associated Press)

The U.N. envoy for Libya is announcing a national unity government for Libya after months of difficult talks between the north African country's two rival governments.

Bernardino Leon has told a press conference that the names of candidates for the national unity government have been decided.

The announcement is a step toward stitching together the oil-rich but chaotic country that fell apart after the overthrow of former dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The country has been split between an Islamist-backed government based in Tripoli and an internationally recognized government in the country's east.

Leon says the prime minister for the new government is Fayez Sarraj.

The envoy says of the names of candidates for the new government, "We believe this list can work."