By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 18 January 2015:
Benghazi Municipal councillor Awad Alqawiri has withdrawn his resignation from the council, in response . . .[restrict]to pressure from city elders, members of civil society and the large number of Benghazi residents who voted for him.
In a post on his official Facebook page, Alqawiri said: “With respect and appreciation for repeated requests by my constituents that I withdraw my resignation, I have decided to return to the council.”
It is not yet known whether Alqawiri will be welcomed back the council with open arms, as there are those who do not wish for him to return.
Dr Alqawiri had announced his resignation from the council at a news conference in October, accusing the-then mayor, Tariq Al-Urfi, and other members of incompetence and not facing up to the crisis in the city. Urfi, a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, resigned last year by SMS, texting that he had been receiving death threats. Omar Albarasi was elected in his stead.
The doctor topped the ballot in the municipal elections in April with 12,120 votes, and has played a prominent role in the city in his position as chairman of its hospitals association, trying to ensure that hospitals are not taken over by militias, specifically Ansar Al-Sharia, and remain open to all residents.
He failed to be elected mayor of Benghazi in July amid allegations that the Muslim Brotherhood forced the election of Urfi who had come fifth in the municipal elections with 961 votes.
Benghazi City Council has not enjoyed a strong reputation. People in the city complain that they have to arrange for their own refuse removal on a neighbourhood basis.
In its defence, the council has argued that is has been woefully underfunded by the central government. Last year it sought money to cope with the locals made homeless by the fighting and refugees from elsewhere in the country, as well as damage to key infrastructure. According to Alqawiri, speaking last year, the council was given a mere million dinars when, in his view, LD 50 million was an absolute minimum. [/restrict]
