Kerry: Two rival Libyan governments ready to agree

Libya's warring factions have signed a UN-brokered deal to form a national government, in a move that western leaders hope will help in the fight against so-called Islamic State.

Four years after the fall of dictator Gaddafi, Libya remains deeply split with two rival governments - a self-declared one in Tripoli and an internationally recognised one in the east of the country.

Despite the signing, the heads of both rival parliaments and factions in both camps have rejected the agreement outright.

Global powers have backed the formation of a national unity government in Libya, pledging economic and security support to help stabilise the chaotic North African country where Islamic State militants have a foothold.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni, joined by U.N. envoy Martin Kobler, were optimistic that the majority of the representatives of Libya's two rival governments would sign a unity deal on December 16.

Representatives from 17 countries including Egypt, Germany, Russia, Turkey, and China signed a joint statement calling for an immediate ceasefire.

They promised to cut off contacts with factions that do not sign the deal.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has said the majority of factions in Libya were ready to sign an agreement

Kerry told reporters that most representatives of the two rival governments currently in power in Libya "have come together and are ready to sign an agreement, and they refuse to be blocked by one or two people or individual politics.

According to a statement, seventeen countries met in Rome for a final push of UN-led negotiations for the formation of a unity government in Libya, promising political, economic and security backing.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says the majority of Libyan factions are ready to sign an agreement on a united government.