The world powers have come together to push for elections in a politically fragile Libya by Reuters

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By the hand of John Irish
PARIS (Reuters) – World powers will meet in France on Friday to push for elections in Libya by the end of the year and support foreign forces from the oil-producing nation, despite growing political conflict that threatens to disrupt a year-long peace process.
The December 24 elections in Libya were set through a UN-sponsored roadmap last year, and a provisional unity government was also established to take on eastern and western administrative rivals who had been at war for years.
The process saw the removal of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 as an opportunity to end post-NATO-sponsored instability and the end of the war and has since attracted regional powers in a threat to wider stability in the Mediterranean.
In a dispute over the legal basis for elections, large factions on both sides may reject the vote, possibly leading to another violent schism.
A French presidential official told reporters in a speech before the meeting that while the elections were near, the situation remained fragile. Some actors were willing to take advantage of all the ambiguities to defend their interests, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Obviously, they are waiting for the ambush and trying to thwart the election process,” the official said.
The latest communiqué may warn diplomats that potential spoilers could face penalties.
There will be nearly 30 countries and organizations in Paris, including Libyan neighbors, and countries divided as a result of the conflict.
Although Paris was initially intended to be attended by Turkish and Russian heads of state, both Ankara and Moscow have sent lower-level representatives, perhaps showing the complications of removing foreign forces.
The mercenaries of the Russian Wagner Group are rooted in the eastern Libyan National Army (LNA), along with the United Arab Emirates and Egypt that helped Moscow in the war.
The former Tripoli government had the support of regular Turkish forces in Libya as its adviser, and the most allied fighters in Syria, the Turkish government said.
Diplomats said Turkey was unlikely to act before it could leave the east.
Forces based in eastern Libya said on Thursday they had agreed to repatriate 300 foreign mercenary from the control area after France asked.
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