Libyan PM faces daunting task

PROTESTERS disrupted a session of Libya’s National Assembly that was set to vote on a new Cabinet headed by Prime Minister-elect Ali Zidan, forcing an early end to the session and leaving Libya without a new government.
General Assembly National President Mohammed Magharif reportedly denounced the situation. “Let it be known to all Libyans and to the whole world in what conditions we are working,” he said. “The situation is out of control.”
Zidan offered a slate of 30 members that includes independents and Islamists and has pledged to reform the army and police. Zidan was elected in Libya’s first elections after Muammar Qaddafi was forced to leave power and was eventually killed after 34 years of oppressive rule. Zidan, who spent 30 years in exile, was a fierce opponent of Qaddafi.
“There were no representatives from Tripoli, which is a problem in the new government,” Khawla Al-Msalati, a reporter for the Tripoli Post said. “But we like our new prime minister very much. He is well-educated and trustworthy, and he listens to the young people.”
Tripoli, with 1.7 million people, is Libya’s capital and largest city. Al-Msalati, 24, says she has personally met Zidan several times, and has a lot of confidence that he will be able to lead Libya. She said she expects the new government to be approved soon. Libya is currently being governed under an interim constitution and one of the new government’s first tasks will be to compose a permanent constitution. Analysts say they believe that Libya will remain peaceful.
“I do think Libya is on the road to democracy, but how quickly it will get there is an open question,” Richard Dalton, a former British Ambassador to Libya said. “The majority of the people want democracy and there will be serious consequences for those who don’t deliver. There is also a lot of oil money to help the system stay ahead of popular expectations.”
Libya has become an issue in the US election, after gunmen stormed the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi last month, killing the American Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three members of his staff. Republicans have accused President Obama of ignoring warnings of a possible attack on the US mission there.
It also raised questions about the influence of militant movements in Libya and whether they could take over the country.
“He loved us, he was like one of us and we are so sorry for this,” Al-Msalati says of Stevens. “We say that we will not let anything like this happen again.”

— This article was written for the MediaLine