Divided Libya proposes new national govt

Libya's U.N.-backed council announced the formation of a revised national unity government on Sunday, with the internationally-recognized parliament to vote on the line-up early this week.

The new government has 13 ministers and five ministers of state inclusive of three women, sources told Al Arabiya News Channel.

The sources said Mahdi Al-Burghuthi, who defected from the former Libyan regime’s army to join the rebels, was chosen as the country’s new defence minister. Al-Arif Al-Khojah was chosen as Libya’s new minister of interior and Mohammed Siyala as the country’s foreign minister.

However, on Monday the Minister of Finance and Minister of Wounded and Missing (MoWM) withdrew from Libya’s unity government in a sign that divisions remain. Earlier, two members of the council refused to sign the document agreeing to the formation of the unity government, one of the two told Agence France-Presse.

"We didn't sign because we don't agree on the government. The way the ministers were nominated is not transparent at all," said the member, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

On Saturday, foreign ministers put pressure on Libya to finalize its unity government and head off the growing threat from ISIS militant group.

Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 ouster of longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi, with two rival administrations and armed groups fighting for control of the oil-rich country.

A militia alliance including Islamists overran Tripoli in August 2014, establishing its own government and parliament and causing the recognized administration to flee to the country's remote east.

Last month the recognized parliament rejected a 32-member unity government announced as part of a U.N.-brokered deal, saying it was too large.

(With AFP)