Libya MPs pass no confidence vote in govt

Libya's parliament has voted to withdraw its confidence from a unity government that took office earlier this year, highlighting increasing divisions in the country ahead of planned elections in December.

Parliament spokesman Abdullah Bliheg said that 89 MPs approved a no-confidence vote out of the 113 who attended the session.

The cabinet will remain as a caretaker government, Bliheg added.

The interim unity government took office in March after it was elected in a UN-brokered process by a political forum made up of rival delegates, with the aim of unifying state institutions and leading the country until elections planned for December 24.

It is not clear how parliament's move will affect the planned elections.

However, it highlights growing divisions between the government, led by Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibeh, and parliament.

For months, the parliament, led by Aguila Saleh, has failed to approve a state budget presented by the government.

Some MPs rejected the parliament's decision, saying there were violations in the voting process and that a no-confidence motion needs at least 120 lawmakers to cast their vote.

Saleh's advisor Fathi al-Marimi denied the accusations and told the DPA news agency that "the procedures are correct according to the internal regulations of parliament".

Oil-rich Libya has been in turmoil since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011 and has become a proxy battleground for rival forces and foreign powers.