While grappling with conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States led air strikes against Gaddafi's forces in 2011 and then handed operations over to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to enforce a no-fly zone. Gaddafi was killed during the turmoil following the collapse of his government.
US President Barack Obama said on Monday the international community should have done more to avoid a leadership vacuum in Libya, which has been in disarray since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi four years ago. Obama's rare acknowledgement of mistakes in Libya's transition came as the United Nations tries to negotiate an end to fighting between two rival governments and their armed backers which has pushed the country to the brink of collapse.
While grappling with conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States led air strikes against Gaddafi's forces in 2011 and then handed operations over to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to enforce a no-fly zone. Gaddafi was killed during the turmoil following the collapse of his government.
"Even as we helped the Libyan people bring an end to the reign of a tyrant, our coalition could have and should have done more to fill a vacuum left behind," Obama told the United Nations General Assembly.
"We're grateful to the United Nations for its efforts to forge a unity government. We will help any legitimate Libyan government as it works to bring the country together, but we also have to recognizes that we must work more effectively in the future as an international community to build capacity for states that are in distress before they collapse," he added.
Libya has fragmented into two loose rival alliances of former rebels who once fought Gaddafi together but turned against each other in a battle for control. Since last year, Tripoli has been controlled by Libya Dawn, an alliance of Islamist-leaning former militias and a powerful armed faction from the city of Misrata that set up a self-declared government and parliament in the capital.
The internationally recognized government and elected parliament has worked out of the east of the country since its armed allies were driven out of the capital, which is in the northwest. It is backed by a former Gaddafi ally, General Khalifa Haftar, and a loose formation of other armed groups.
Hard-liners from both sides have resisted peace talks, hoping they can gain more from conflict. A deal proposed by the United Nations calls for a one-year united national government, with the current elected parliament as the legislature, and another chamber as a consultative body.
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