Rival Libyan tribes sign peace deal in Qatar

Two rival Libyan tribes, the Tuareg and Toubou, have signed a ceasefire deal in Doha to end months of fighting, Qatar state media has reported. 

The deal, signed on Monday, not only seeks to end 14 months of fighting in the southwestern Libyan city of Ubari but also help thousands of displaced people return to their homes.

The agreement was signed by heads of delegations of both tribes in the presence of a Qatari assistant foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, reported the Qatar News Agency (QNA).

"A permanent ceasefire is part of the agreement that also stipulates the return of the displaced people of Ubari to their homes, opening the public road to Ubari and ending all armed manifestations in the town," said the QNA.  

News of the deal came just 24 hours after new UN envoy Martin Kobler urged rival Libyan politicians to sign up to a UN-brokered agreement for power sharing.

Libya has been wracked by violence since a 2011 uprising ousted dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

The Toubou, who mainly live in the southeast straddling the border with neighbouring Chad, were heavily discriminated against under Gaddafi and fought in the 2011 uprising that finally saw him killed.

The Tuareg, who mainly live in the southwest straddling the borders with Algeria and Niger, were largely loyal to the Gaddafi government.