Libya near point of no return

Bernardino, a Spanish diplomat who took up the post in August, has repeatedly called on both sides to agree to a ceasefire.

Despite the persistent fighting in the war-torn country and two rival governments jostling for control, oil production has recovered to 800,000 barrels per day from just 200,000 b/d earlier in the year.

The internationally recognized government under Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni lost control of the capital Tripoli in August, and has taken refuge since in the Eastern city of Bayda.

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On the ground, there was little sign of rapprochement as the rival political leaderships clash over who should govern.This week the Al-Thinni government vowed to set up a new state news agency after its original one, LANA, was taken over by the rebel authorities.

Despite a recovery in oil production, and ambitious output targets of 1.5 million b/d by year-end, concerns about future disruptions loom large.

"There are, however, nagging doubts over the sustainability of Libya's recovery because the country's political situation remains extremely unstable," the International Energy Agency warned in its Oil Market Report for October.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund has also issued a gloomy outlook for the country, forecasting Monday a contraction of 19.8 percent, almost one fifth, in 2014. Some 96 percent of state revenues are derived from oil and gas production.

The report added the authorities would need an oil price of $184 per barrel to balance the budget in 2015, higher than any of its peers in the Middle East and North Africa. A fiscal deficit of 52 percent of gross domestic product was expected for this year.

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Libya near point of no return

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