The US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, says that Libya needs a new legitimate government, as he criticized the heads of the two competing governments, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and Fathi Bashagha saying they are incapable of running the country.

Norland's comments came during an interview with Sky News Arabia broadcasted on Saturday.

"I believe that neither of the two prime ministers in Libya can manage the country, and what we need now is a general agreement on a fully legitimate government that has the strength and confidence to manage the affairs of all Libyans," Norland told Sky News reporter, insisting that this will only happen through elections.

Ambassador Norland considered the deep mistrust between the Libyans, besides the interference of regional actors, one of the fundamental issues hindering the peace process.

"There are security and economic interests at stake, so finding solutions to such deep problems will not be easy."

As the US ambassador put it, the ongoing diplomatic move this week in New York reflects that everyone understands that the status quo cannot continue amid the recent violence in Libya.

Norland blamed the "controversial candidates" for the failure of the 24 December elections last year that were called off at the last minute.

The Libyans are frustrated with the dramatic increase in violence in conjunction with the high prices and power cuts, the US diplomat said, as he expressed support for Libyans' right to question the reason for not holding the elections.

Norland added that the US role in Libya should not be exaggerated and said his country wanted to use its influence for the international mobilization of the electoral process.