By Libya Herald reporter.
Tobruk, 5 January 2015:
The House of Representatives met in session today in Tobruk’s navy base to discuss its . . .[restrict]security and that of its members. In the absence of the President of the HoR, Ageela Salah Gwaider, who was in Cairo for the special Arab League meeting on Libya and to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, nothing was formally decided.
It was the House’s first meeting since the car bomb explosion six days ago outside the Dar Al-Salam hotel where it has, until now, been holding its sessions. Normally, the HoR meets on Sundays and Tuesdays. However, because of the attack and change of venue, yesterday’s meeting was postponed. In any event, journalists were not allowed in to cover today’s discussions – because, according to members, since its internal security was the issue, it was not a formal session.
One change, however, was noticeable. Security, previously in the hands of a private company, is now provided by the army. It follows a request from the HoR to the Chief of Staff, Major-General Abdul Razzaq Nazhuri, late last week, to take it over.
It had been suggested last week that the latest session would discuss the possibility of replacing Nazhuri with General Khalifa Hafter. In the event, this is now viewed as a decision for the HoR’s president and at the end of last week, Gwaider signed a decree reinstalling 129 army officers, including Hafter, who had reached retirement age and Saqr Adam Geroushi the head of the LNA’s air force.
Not all those reinstated are retirees. Many of are said to be senior former regime officers removed by the Political isolation Law. “Their experience is needed” in the present crisis, a senior army official said.
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