A majority of the Libyan parliament has approved former interior minister Fathi Bashagha to head a new national unity government. Libyan media broadcast video of Thursday's parliament session in the eastern town of Tobruk, showing Speaker Aguileh Saleh announcing the body's approval of new national unity prime minister Fathi Bashagha by majority vote. Minutes earlier, the Libyan parliament approved a series of constitutional amendments, paving the way for parliamentary and presidential elections 14 months from now. Outgoing national unity prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh told Libyan media several days ago that he would not hand over power to a new prime minister, claiming that any such transfer was what he called "fraudulent." Abou Diab adds that some reports say that militia forces in Tripoli are now in the process of surrounding government buildings held by those loyal to outgoing Prime Minister Dbeibeh.

Source: Libya Today February 11, 2022 05:41 UTC