UN Adviser Condemns Storming Of Libya's Parliament

UN special adviser to Libya Stephanie Williams condemned on Saturday the storming of the House of Representatives (parliament) in eastern Libya a day earlier.

"Riots and acts of vandalism such as the storming of the House of Representatives headquarters late yesterday in Tobruk are totally unacceptable," Williams said on Twitter.

"It is absolutely vital that calm is maintained, responsible Libyan leadership demonstrated, and restraint exercised by all," she added.

The UN official went on to call for respecting "people's right to peacefully protest."

On Friday, protesters stormed the premises of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives and set it on fire amid protests in several Libyan cities calling for the abolition of legislative and executive bodies and holding elections as soon as possible.

Libya has been plagued by turmoil and divisions since the 2011 ouster of strongman Muammar Gaddafi.

UN-sponsored talks between Libyan rivals to agree on a constitutional framework to hold the long-awaited elections have been deadlocked.

Libyans are still waiting for elections to take place in hopes that the vote will contribute to ending years of armed conflict in the oil-rich country.

*Writing by Bassel Barakat -