Tripoli, Jan 9 (IANS): UN envoy Stephanie Williams welcomed a meeting between military leaders from the Libyan interim government and the eastern-based army, reiterating the world body's support for a peaceful resolution to the country's longstanding conflict.

The UN Secretary-General's special adviser for Libya made the remarks after Muhammad Al-Haddad, chief of staff of the Government of National Unity, and Abdel Razek Al-Nadori, acting general commander of the eastern-based Libyan National Army, met on Saturday in the northern coastal city of Sirte, reports Xinhua news agency.

A number of senior military figures from both sides also attended the meeting, the second of its kind between the two military leaders.

"I reiterate the support of the United Nations for all efforts made at various levels to unify the military institution," Williams wrote on Twitter.

The oil-rich North African country has been in turmoil since the fall of the Muammar Gaddafi's government in 2011.

The escalating tensions between a number of political forces in 2014 resulted in two separate governments -- the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord recognized by the UN and the House of Representatives allied with the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar.

On February 5, 2021, the UN-led Libyan Political Dialogue Forum selected a temporary unified executive authority to take Libya to national elections on December 24.

The country's High National Elections Commission suggested on December 22 that the elections be postponed by a month to January 24, 2022 over technical and legal concerns.