The US special envoy and ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, said that he "does not want any electoral process that increases instability" in Libya, stressing the need to resolve the controversy over the identity of the candidates for the presidential elections.

In an interview with the Saudi Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath news channel, Norland reaffirmed the US support for the efforts of UN envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, to reach elections in 2023.

"The identity of the candidates for the presidential elections must be resolved because it previously caused the elections to be postponed," Norland said, pointing out that many of the candidates were considered controversial figures.

He said: "We must agree on the method of managing the electoral process. Nobody who wants to run for elections can be part of supervising the vote."

Norland stressed that the political agreement is one of the basic elements for holding elections, adding that progress must be made in the file of removing mercenaries from Libya to support this holding elections.

Regarding the US embassy's return to work from inside Libya, Norland said the reopening of their embassy in Libya is linked to the security situation.