A new round of talks between Libya's warring factions kicked off in the Moroccan city of Skhirat on Thursday in the absence of the General National Conference (GNC) team.

The talks are focusing on expediting the dialogue process with a view to finalizing the Libyan Political Agreement, including reaching agreement on a Government of National Accord.

Earlier, the GNC told the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) that its team will not be attending this round of talks in Skhirat, explaining that the GNC needs to reorganize its negotiating team following the resignation of two members.

Libya, a major oil producer in North Africa, has been witnessing a frayed political process after former leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled during the 2011 political turmoil.

The country is now deadlocked in a dogfight between the pro-secular army and Islamist militants, which has led to a security vacuum for homegrown extremism to brew.

The UN has brokered several rounds of dialogues between the conflicting parties since last September, but clashes persisted despite a truce agreed by the warring factions.

Source: MENA