By Sami Zaptia.
Tripoli, 13 February 2014:
In reply to a question from the media about the statement by the GNC official spokesperson . . .[restrict]that the GNC had come to an agreement in principle on replacing the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said that he did not accept that Hamaidan was speaking for Congress.
The Prime Minister, speaking at yesterday’s press conference, publicly rebuked the GNC’s official spokesperson, saying that he had spoken to him personally regarding the comment, adding that Hamaidan may have been expressing his opinion or his wishes.
Zeidan admitted that there were members of the GNC who wanted to replace the government, just as there were members who supported the government.
There has been a concerted attempt over the last two months by opponents of Zeidan to remove his government. However, this attempt has repeatedly failed to obtain a majority within the GNC, leading to his main opponents, the Islamist Justice and Construction party, withdrawal of their five government ministers in protest.
As a result, Prime Minister Zeidan has put forward proposed replacements for the resigned, and other vacant, ministerial positions.
Yesterday’s press conference, which was quite shorter than usual, lasting for just over 30 minutes, was held at the Islamic Call Society, rather than the recently used Ministry of Electricity just up the road.
It is notable that in the lead up to the 7 February call for mass protests to eject the GNC and Zeidan government, the Prime Minister has been using the more defendable and secure Islamic Call Society HQ off Swani road as his base, rather than his town centre office on Sikka Road. [/restrict]
