Top Libyan official says naming new prime minister ‘incorrect’

TRIPOLI, Libya

The head of Libya’s High Council of State said last week’s move by the parliament to appoint a new prime minister was “incorrect”.

“The parliament’s decision to name a new prime minister before holding a session of the High Council of State was incorrect,” Khaled al-Mishri said in a statement on the council’s website on Wednesday.

This move “won’t help to build bridges of trust between the council and parliament,” he added.

On Feb. 10, the House of Representatives, based in eastern Libya, named former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha to form a new government, replacing incumbent Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh.

The parliament argues that the mandate of Dbeibeh’s government had expired on Dec. 24.

Dbeibeh, however, said that he will “accept no new transitional phase or parallel authority” and will hand over power only to an elected government.

The UN said it still recognizes Dbeibeh as Libya’s interim prime minister.

Writing by Ahmed Asmar