Libya PM’s proposed cabinet omits liberals

LIBYA: Libya’s newly elected Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur on Wednesday submitted to the government a proposed cabinet line-up that excludes the country’s leading liberal coalition, a spokesman said. “This list was presented today to the General National Congress,” said Omar Humeidan of the 200-member ruling assembly.

The congress would hold an extraordinary meeting on Thursday to vote on each minister, and Abu Shagur would be able to propose alternatives until Sunday if any of his choices are rejected. The nominated defence minister is Abdelsalam al-Obeidi, an army general serving in the operations room of the eastern city of Benghazi, where the population has taken a strong stance against militias comprising former rebels.

The position had been held by Osama Jweili, a former rebel commander. Omar al-Aswad was proposed as interior minister, while the post of foreign minister remained blank on the list. Several members of outgoing Prime Minister Abdel Rahman al-Kib’s cabinet are part of the line-up, including a deputy prime minister and the education minister.

Many names on the list are unknown and the final make-up of the 29-member cabinet could still change. AFP