TRIPOLI: Libya’s new prime minister, Ali Zeidan, yesterday presented his 30-member cabinet to the national assembly for approval in the hope of forming a coalition government after his predecessor failed.
Zeidan told the General National Congress he had included the main political parties in his line-up, among them the liberal National Forces Alliance (NFA) and the Islamist Justice and Construction Party, while some top posts were given to independents.
The new government faces many challenges in a country still awash with arms and struggling for reconciliation more than a year after the end of the armed uprising that ousted and killed dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Its chief task is organising fresh elections within 12 months on the basis of a new constitution.
“I decided to put independents in charge of the ministries of foreign affairs, international cooperation, finance, justice, interior and defence,” Zeidan said in a televised address to the GNC.
The assembly must approve the government team before Zeidan, a former diplomat and long-time Gaddafi opponent, can assume office.
Among Zeidan’s nominations are Mohammed Al Barghathi as defence minister and Ashur Shwayel as interior minister, both natives of Benghazi, cradle of the 2011 revolt.
AP
