A fighter of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) fires at Libyan National Army (LNA) during clashes in Ain-Zara frontline in Tripoli, Libya, on March 13, 2020. (Photo by Amru Salahuddien/Xinhua)

The head of Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) said Wednesday he planned to step down within six weeks as part of efforts to broker a peace agreement.

Libya has endured almost a decade of violent chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed veteran leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Fayez al-Sarraj's GNA has battled against a rival administration in eastern Libya led by strongman Khalifa Haftar, whose offensive against the government in Tripoli recently ground to a halt after more than a year of deadly conflict.

Both sides have since met for peace talks in Morocco after announcing a surprise cease fire and pledging national elections in August. 

Sarraj said during a brief televised address on Wednesday evening that he was willing to leave his post in favor of a new executive determined by the talks.

"I announce to all my sincere wish to cede my functions to the next administration before the end of October at the latest," he said.

The talks had outlined the process for determining a new Presidential Council and the appointment of a new head of government who would take office "peacefully," Sarraj added in a statement.

He welcomed the "preliminary and promising recommendations" agreed to during the Morocco dialogue. 

The Morocco summit, dubbed the "Libyan Dialogue," has brought together five members of the Tripoli-based GNA and five from the rival parliament headquartered in the eastern city of Tobruk.

AFP