Egypt has welcomed the Libyan Government of National Unity's (GNU) vote of confidence by the country's House of Representatives on Wednesday. In a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement, Egypt praised the Libyan Parliament's role in assuming its responsibilities and giving priority to the higher interest of Libya. This particularly relates to moving forward towards the restoration of Libya's stability, security, and sovereignty, in a way that would relieve the suffering of the Libyan people. Ahmed Hafez, spokesperson for Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed his country's aspiration to work with the GNU during the transitional period, and to support its efforts to meet its obligations as per the road map for a political solution. Egypt voiced its hope that the elections would be held as scheduled by the end of this year, and that the results of the Joint Military Commission (JMC) 5+5 and the economic track meetings would be implemented to safeguard the capabilities of the Libyan people, help Libya overcome its crisis and achieve security and stability in the region. After two days of intense debate, the Libyan parliament approved the cabinet of interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeiba, with 121 of the 132 lawmakers present voting in support. Libyan lawmakers have confirmed a newly appointed government, in the hope it will help unify the divided country, and shepherd it through to elections at the end of the year. The government of Prime Minister-designate Dbeiba replaces two rival administrations, one based in the East and another in the West, that have been ruling Libya for a number of years. "This will be the government of all Libyans," Dbeiba said, in a brief speech after the vote on Wednesday, with influential parliamentary speaker Aguila Saleh noting it as "a historic day". Over 100 members of the divided parliament voted to back Dbeiba's government in a rare session in the frontline city of Sirte, with only a handful of votes against. Saleh said 132 lawmakers approved Dbeiba's government, which has a mandate that lasts until elections are held on 24 December, according to a UN-brokered roadmap
