Tripoli — Libya's newly-elected Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur has nominated his cabinet for approval by the national congress, presenting a line-up that excludes the country's leading liberal coalition, a spokesman said.

In a televised session on Wednesday, Mustafa Abushagur presented more than 20 government ministers, but said the post of foreign minister had yet to be filled and that he would act in that capacity for now.

The congress was to hold an extraordinary meeting on Thursday to vote on each minister, and Abu Shagur would be able to propose alternatives until Sunday if any of his choices are rejected.

The nominated defence minister is Abdul Aalam Al Obaidi, an army general serving in the operations room of the eastern city of Benghazi, where the population has taken a strong stance against militias comprising former rebels.

Omar Al Aswad was proposed as interior minister.

Many names on the list are unknown and the final make-up of the 29-member cabinet could still change. There is only one woman, Sumeya Bilatif, the proposed social affairs minister.
allAfrica