Libya's warring sides agree to cement cease-fire deal: UN

The U.N. mission in Libya said on Feb. 24 that the country's warring sides had agreed to turn a shaky cease-fire into a formal deal, stirring modest hopes after weeks of sporadic violence that derailed negotiations.

As the latest round of U.N.-mediated talks between rival military leaders wrapped up in Geneva, both sides reached a draft deal "to facilitate the safe return of civilians to their areas," according to a U.N. statement.

The return of thousands of displaced civilians will be monitored by military representatives in Geneva with support from the U.N. mission in Libya.

The delegates negotiating on behalf of Libya's rival administrations must now send the draft for approval to their respective leaders who have the power to halt the fighting, a prospect that faces further obstacles. The representatives promised to reconvene in Geneva next month to hammer out details of the deal's implementation.

Feb. 24's apparent breakthrough came days after eastern-based forces under the command of Khalifa Haftar escalated their attacks on the capital, Tripoli, which is held by a rival U.N.-backed government.

The attacks hit Tripoli's civilian seaport, narrowly missing a highly explosive liquefied petroleum gas tanker and prompting the Tripoli administration to pull out of talks. The negotiations resumed days later, with expectations for an agreement low.

A key sticking point throughout the talks has been the disarmament of fierce militias defending the capital against Haftar's assault.

Officials from Libya's Tripoli government expressed willingness to demobilize militias at the latest Human Rights Council session in Geneva on Feb. 24. But it remains unclear whether the administration has the power to rein in the scores of...