UN envoy to meet with Libya's Tripoli parliament ahead of talks

The UN's special envoy for Libya is scheduled on Tuesday to meet with representatives of the country's rival parliament based in Tripoli, the UN said, following protests in the capital against the current peace proposals.

The meeting in Istanbul between Bernadino Leon and the General National Congress (GNC) will likely focus on convincing the parliament to take part in talks due to be held this week in Geneva. The talks will be aimed at ending violence in the north African country.

Last week, amid protests outside the GNC headquarters, its leaders said they would not return to peace talks underway in Morocco because the UN's latest draft for a unity government failed to include its proposals.

The GNC is reportedly unhappy with the latest draft because it reduces the role of a proposed 120-member State Council which would form part of a new unity government. 

While 90 of the council's members would be drawn from the GNC, the latest UN draft has stripped the body of its legislative role, meaning it would only give opinions on laws passed by the House of Representatives.

Libya Dawn, the coalition of militias that controls the capital, also rejected the latest peace plan as "treason, because it sanctions the creation of a fascist dictatorship under the auspices of the UN". 

Libya has two rival parliaments and governments and has been torn apart since the international community helped to oust leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. 

"Bernardino Leon, will hold consultations... with representatives of the General National Congress to discuss ways to move forward the dialogue process with a view to reaching a peaceful solution to the political crisis and military conflict in Libya," a UN statement said.

The talks scheduled to be held in Geneva this week are the latest round in long-running peace negotiations between Libya's rival factions.

The factions agreed in January to set up a unity government to restore the stability shattered since the 2011 revolution, but negotiations have run into hurdles.