Libya's southern Fezzan region declares autonomy

Libya’s south-western region of Fezzan declared itself on Thursday an autonomous federal province, Al Arabiya correspondent reported.

Nouri Mohammad al-Qouizi was named as the president of the province, according to Libyan media reports. Local tribal leaders said a military chief would later be appointed to protect the region’s borders and its natural resources.

The tribal leaders also said they took the decision because of the “weak performance of the General National Congress and the lack of response to the demands of the Libyan people in Fezzan.”

The move came a month after Cirenaica, in eastern Libya, took a similar step declaring itself also an autonomous federal province.