Libya lawmakers issue no-confidence vote for U.N.-backed administration

TRIPOLI, Libya, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- The United Nations-backed unity government that is operating in Libya is not working, the nation's House of Representatives communicated Monday.

The Libyan lawmaking body issued a vote of no-confidence Monday, 61-1, against the Government of National Accord -- which was put in place by the U.N. after Muammar Gaddafi's removal from power in 2011.

In all, 101 House members attended Monday's vote but 39 abstained from voting, 61 voted against the unity government and one voted in favor.

The vote went against the Government of National Accord, which was created by the Libyan Political Agreement in December. The U.N. Security Council approved the interim government, but lawmakers do not support its cabinet membership.

It wasn't immediately clear what impact Monday's vote will have on the temporary government, or whether it will result in a cabinet shakeup.

The vote is a blow to efforts of democracy in the North African nation, which has endured severe conflict since Gaddafi's ouster. It also follows two years of internal strife triggered in 2014 when the House of Representatives were forced by militias to flee Tripoli.

The House of Representatives, known similarly as the Council of Deputies, also voiced opposition to the cabinet and Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj.

Sunday, al-Serraj's Presidential Council sent a letter to Libyan officials to make clear the makeup of the cabinet is not yet complete.

"We are in the process of naming new ministers within the next few days; therefore, the cabinet is not final," it said.