Libya parliament votes 'no confidence' in UN-backed government

A spokesman for Libya’s internationally-backed parliament said it had voted “no confidence” in the country’s UN-backed government.

The development is a major blow to international efforts to resolve the crisis in the deeply divided North African country.

Abdullah Ablahig said 101 lawmakers were present Monday, enough to reach quorum for the vote. He said 61 supported it, 39 abstained and one member voted to support the government.

It was unclear what would happen next. Some lawmakers claim the vote would automatically dissolve the government set up under a UN deal, while its supporters dispute this.

Libya’s parliament is seated in the eastern city of Tobruk. The UN-backed government is based in Tripoli, the country’s capital.

Libya has been mired in conflict since the 2011 ouster of dictator Moammar Gadhafi.