Libyans protest over PM’s new government

More than 100 Libyans have stormed the headquarters of the Libyan General Conference in Tripoli to protest against the formation of a new government.

The protesters said on Thursday that the list of new cabinet members presented the day before by Mustafa Abushagur, the prime minister, are not representative of Libya.

The demonstrators entered the national assembly’s premises and aired their grievances to representatives of the legislative assembly, the first elected authority after four decades of rule under slain leader Muammar Gaddafi, witnesses said.

Between 100 and 150 demonstrators from the western town of Zawiyah walked into the hall where congress meets, forcing the cancellation of a session to study the nominations.

“After we heard the list, everyone in Zawiyah was angry. Some even began protesting in Zawiyah’s main square last night,” said Nuri Shambi, who travelled 50km to Tripoli to voice his anger.

“Abushagur said he would form a coalition government, that he would look at experience. Zawiyah proposed candidates for oil minister, but he’s brought in someone who is not well known.”

The protesters eventually left the hall but remained outside.

A session was set for later on Thursday to determine the procedure for voting on the candidates in an assembly still finding its feet after Libya’s first democratic election in July.

Abushagur’s line-up includes many unknown names, including the proposed oil minister, Mabrouk Issa Abu Harroura.

While Abushagur says he is politically “neutral”, the line-up is said to include several members of the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. Ibrahim al-Gharyani, head of the National Forces Alliance (NFA) in congress, said there were no candidates from his alliance.

Dissatisfaction voiced

Omar Hmaidan, congress spokesman, said several congress members had already voiced dissatisfaction with the nominations.

Abushagur can propose alternatives until Sunday if any choices are rejected.

The NFA’s leader, wartime rebel prime minister Mahmoud Jibril, lost out narrowly to Abushagur in the congress vote for the next head of government.

Although the NFA is easily the biggest political grouping with 39 out of the 80 party seats in the assembly, another 120 seats are in the hands of independents whose leanings may start to become clear as they vote on the cabinet.

“We need a political government. Many of these people are not known,” Mohammed Saleem, congress member, said.

Another congress member echoed that, adding: “Those who are known to us have little experience.”

The NFA had asked in vain for nine ministries and the inclusion of its programme in the next government.

Hamuda Siala, NFA spokesman, said it would support Abushagur’s cabinet “as long as it aims to serve Libya’s national interest, improve security and boost development”.

Abushagur’s transitional government will take over from an interim administration appointed last November in which he was deputy prime minister.

He picked three deputy prime ministers from the western mountain town of Zintan, from the south and from the east in an attempt to ensure broad geographical representation.