By Libya Herald reporters.
Tobruk/Benghazi, 21 September 2014:
There were heated scenes in the Torbuk-based House of Representatives this evening as members rejected . . .[restrict]Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni’s latest list of government ministers. It is said to have included ten ministers, plus himself and two deputies, while the HoR is demanding 11 (including himself) as the absolute maximum.
Thinni is, moreover, reportedly sticking to his demand to also remain as Defence Minister. The HoR has said that no cabinet minister should hold more than one post.
According to one member, Thinni’s proposed cabinet consisted of three members from the south, three from the west and four from the east, with one of his deputies from Misrata and the other from Zintan. The member said that Benghazi members were demanding three from the city alone and that some members had been banging tables and insulting each other.
Some members of the House were, late this evening, again talking about finding another prime minister, given the situation. However, according to an HoR spokesman who admitted that there had been a “very heated” debate, the House has decided to meet again tomorrow to decide on the government. In any event, he said, there had been no quorum to appoint a government.
Tomorrow’s session, the member said, would exclude members’ assistants who, he claimed had been instrumental in today’s rumpus.
Because of the continuing row, which is certain to delight the rival Congress in Tripoli and have a damaging effect on the HoR’s public standing, Thinni has not flown to New York to attend the UN General Assembly.
The HoR’s president, Ageela Saleh, along with Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdulaziz left earlier today. [/restrict]
