Libya to Elect New Parliament on June 25

Libya's electoral commission announced Tuesday that polls will take place on June 25 to elect a new parliament to replace the contested General National Congress, Lana state news agency said.

Successive governments have complained that the GNC's claim to executive power as well as legislative authority has tied their hands in bringing to heel former rebel militias blamed for growing unrest in the North African country since the 2011 uprising that ousted and killed long-time strongman Moammar Gadhafi.

The announcement came a day after the government urged the GNC to go into recess after a planned parliamentary meeting Tuesday to debate the budget and a motion of confidence in Prime Minister Ahmed Miitig.

The government said this could help spare Libya from descending into civil war after renegade general Khalifa Haftar, whom authorities branded an "outlaw," launched a campaign Friday to rid the country of jihadists.

Gunmen from the ex-rebel Zintan brigade, who say they back Haftar, attacked the parliament building in Tripoli on Sunday.

The interim parliament, dominated by Islamists, sparked widespread public outrage earlier this year when it extended its own mandate until December.