By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 7 August 2014:
One of the four representatives in the new parliament from Gharian, Naim Abdurrahman, has announced . . .[restrict]that he is pulling out of its sessions in Tobruk.
“For reasons which I will clarify in detail in an upcoming statement, I have decided, after careful consideration, not to participate in the House of Representative sessions which have been convened in the city of Tobruk”, he said in a letter which he sent to the Libya Herald as well as posting on his Facebook page.
He says he made the decision “after careful deliberation and consultation, and bearing in mind the seriousness of this matter and the magnitude of this responsibility”, adding that he had done so “with deep respect and appreciation for the sincere efforts of all of my colleagues in the House who have elected to participate in these sessions”.
Asking the people of Gharian to understand his move, he says he took it “for the good of the country”.
The mountain town of Gharian is divided over over whether to recognise the new parliament. Revolutionaries there have joined the Misrata-led Libya Dawn Operation alliance against Zintanis in Tripoli, although that is said to be more to do with Gharian’s rivalry with Zintan. However, the alliance is also now firmly opposed to the new parliament. Two days ago there was a demonstration in the town in support of the Misratans and against parliament. It was, however, small. Some locals have told the this newspaper that it represented only a small minority of their fellow citizens.
Gharian’s other three members of Parliament (MPs)– Sulaiman Al-Harari, Salah Zubaik and Alsaida Al-Yacoubi are in Tobruk, although Zubaik did not attend the first inaugural session. However, he managed to fly to Tobruk two days ago with Suq Al-Juma member Mustafa Abushagur, Salem Ignan (Nalut) and Ali Al-Tikali (Ain Zara). [/restrict]
