The country’s east-based House of Representatives named a new prime minister, former interior minister Fathi Bashagha, to lead a new interim government in February. The lawmakers claimed the mandate of interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who is based in the capital, Tripoli, expired when the election failed to take place. But Dbeibah insists he will remain prime minister until elections are held, and the High State Council, which advises the interim government, called parliament’s decision to name a new prime minister “incorrect” before holding elections. The United States and United Kingdom strongly supported Williams’ efforts to promote dialogue among the feuding parties that leads to elections, but Russia did not. U.S. deputy ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis said the United States strongly urges the House of Representatives and High State Council to participate in the U.N.-facilitated dialogue.

Source: Libya Today March 17, 2022 00:06 UTC