Tripoli, 17 June:
The official spokesman of the NTC, Mohammed Harizi, has resigned. His decision follows allegations that he intentionally altered an . . .[restrict]official NTC statement regarding a meeting held between the Muslim cleric, Ali Salabi, and a group of former Qaddafi officials led by the cousin of the slain dictator, Ahmed Qaddaf El-Dum. The meeting took place in Cairo on 27 May.
Harizi’s replacement is Salah Darhoub, the NTC member for Janzour, who will be in the post for just three weeks before nationwide elections are held on 7 July, at which point the council’s term comes to an end.
According to NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the alteration to the statement did not change its overall meaning, but Harizi’s unilateral decision was nonetheless inconsistent with his mandate as spokesman.
It is believed that Harizi felt unfairly treated by Jalil in the aftermath of the incident, which may also have contributed to his decision to resign.
The meeting between Salabi and El-Dum caused considerable consternation amongst several NTC members and broader sections of the Libyan public. Salabi has maintained that he was authorised by Jalil to conduct the meeting as part of Libya’s efforts towards national reconciliation.
However, a senior government source informed the Libya Herald this evening that Salabi was in fact only authorised to meet with Libyan families in Cairo, and not senior Qaddafi personnel. It is believed that some 700,000 Libyans are now living in Egypt, out of a total of 1.5 million Libyans displaced by last year’s revolution.
Harizi was not available this evening for comment.
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