Libyan parliament approves new govt

TRIPOLI－The Libyan House of Representatives, or parliament, granted confidence to a new government on Tuesday to replace the current Government of National Unity led by Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah.

"The House of Representatives unanimously granted confidence to the new government, with a majority of 92 votes," said parliament spokesperson Abdullah Blehig in a statement.

The 101-seat Libyan parliament withdrew confidence from Dbeibah's government in September and kept it as a caretaker government. On Feb 10, it unanimously voted to appoint former interior minister Fathi Bashagha as the new prime minister.

The new government includes three deputy prime ministers, 29 ministers and six ministers of state, reported The Associated Press.

Prime Minister-designate Bashagha said later on Tuesday that his newly approved government would seek to achieve reconciliation and stability in the country.

"The most important things we seek today is reconciliation, participation and stability, so that we can move to prosperity, well-being and development," Bashagha was quoted as saying by his information office in a speech.

Bashagha pledged his commitment to holding elections according to the road map approved by the House of Representatives in February, and expressed hope to cooperate with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya in achieving reconciliation, holding elections, adopting a constitution and unifying the state's institutions.

He also confirmed that his government would assume office peacefully and that necessary legal and administrative arrangements have been taken.

But Dbeibah vowed his government will remain in office until an elected government is established. He announced a plan on Feb 21 to hold general elections in June.

Dbeibah's government accused the House of Representatives on Tuesday of approving the new government "without achieving quorum" during the session, vowing its continued work to prepare for elections in June.

General elections in Libya had been scheduled for Dec 24, but were postponed over technical and legal issues, according to the country's elections commission.

A number of armed factions in western Libya have announced their rejection of the new government approved by the parliament.

In a joint statement late on Tuesday, the armed factions called on the Presidential Council to dissolve the House of Representatives and hold elections early.

Xinhua - Agencies