By Libya Herald reporter.
Tripoli, 12 October 2016:
Staff at Benghazi’s Jalaa and Kuwaifiya respiratory diseases hospitals demonstrated today against the decision last week of Beida-based prime minister Abdulah Al-Thinni to sack Reida El-Oakley as his health minister.
Condemning the decision, and saying that the minister had been doing his job well in extremely difficult circumstances, protestors at Kuwaifiya Hospital called on the House of Representatives (HoR) health committee to reverse the decision.
The committee has been tasked by HoR president Ageela Saleh to investigate the sacking and decide whether Dr El-Oakley should be reinstated.
Protestors at Jalaa Hospital made the same point about El-Oakley performing well despite the situation.
The protests represent a further setback for Thinni who this week lost his spokesman and reportedly tried to remove his interior minister. The latter, however, has the support of the military establishment around Field Marshal Khalifa Hafter.
It appears not to have accepted his dismissal.
The eastern military has meanwhile ordered a clampdown on media coverage of any demonstrations that do not meet with its approval. The pro-Oakley protests, though, have been reported by the Beida offices of the Libyan news agency LANA, which suggests they have the military’s backing.
