By Louis Charbonneau
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The outgoing United Nations envoy to Libya on Thursday urged Libya's rival factions to halt their attempts to obstruct a power-sharing plan intended to end a long-standing political crisis in the conflict torn country.
Bernardino Leon, who is due to be replaced soon by veteran German diplomat Martin Kobler, also defended himself against suggestions that it was a conflict of interest for him to accept a job in the United Arab Emirates training diplomats from one of the Arab countries most involved in the Libyan crisis.
"I urge the respective leaderships ... to listen to calls within their respective houses, and those of the Libyan people, and to desist from any further attempts and maneuvering to obstruct the democratic process," Leon told the U.N. Security Council.
Libya has fallen into turmoil with its internationally recognized government and elected parliament on one side and a self-styled administration holding Tripoli on the other, each backed by regional, tribal or Islamist armed factions.
After months of deadlocked negotiations, Leon recently presented Libya's rival factions with a proposed national unity government, but hard-liners on both sides have resisted power-sharing.
"There is a growing sense of urgency (in Libya) ... that the country should no longer be held hostage to the narrow interests of a few on either side of the political divide," Leon said.
In the four years since the fall of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, chaos has allowed Islamic State militants to gain a foothold in the country.
Responding to questions from reporters about whether his decision to accept a job in UAE represented a conflict of interest, Leon acknowledged that it did not have good "optics."
The Tripoli faction has already made clear its displeasure, saying Leon was biased in favor of their internationally recognized rival administration in the east.
"I think the (Tripoli faction) shouldn't worry," he said.
Along with Egypt, UAE backs the internationally recognized government led by Abdullah al-Thinni operating in the east.
Emirates Diplomatic Academy said on Wednesday that Leon will become director-general in December.
Leon said he has been criticized by one side or the other throughout the mediation process "day and night," adding that it came with the job.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters than Leon's work as a diplomat "speaks for itself."