Tripoli, 12 August:
Mohammed Magarief has been replaced as leader of the National Front by the party’s vice-president Mohammed Ali Abdullah, after . . .[restrict]he stood down from the post following his election as speaker of the National Congress on Thursday.
Magarief made the decision on the basis that he would be unable to fulfill his duties as speaker, which demands impartiality, whilst also leading a political party that holds three seats in the Congress.
The move marks the end of an era for Magarief, who had led the National Front since its creation in May of this year, having served as secretary-general of its predecessor, the National Front for the Salvation of Libya, from 1982 to 2001. [/restrict]
