New Libyan Gov’t Takes Office amid Eastern Violence

Local Editor

Libya's new government announced Monday it had taken office, despite the refusal of Abdullah al-Thani's cabinet to leave power, as violence intensified in the east of the country following the launch of a deadly "anti-terrorist" campaign.

Prime Minister Ahmed Miitig, 42, said in a statement he had convened his ministers for the first time since his disputed election in May, amid an ongoing power struggle in Tripoli.

His spokesman said Miitig had "no difficulties" in accessing the parliamentary building.
"There was no opposition from the security services deployed in front of the building," said the spokesman.

Miitig is Libya's fifth prime minister since dictator Moammar Gadhafi was toppled and killed in a 2011 uprising.
The General National Congress elected extremist-backed businessman Miitig in a chaotic vote in early May, days after gunmen stormed the GNC to interrupt an earlier ballot.

However, some political opponents refused to recognize the new leader.
Miitig is due to lead a short transitional period until legislative elections are held on June 25, and the new parliament will replace the GNC and form another cabinet.
Fierce fighting between extremists and a rogue general's forces in the eastern city of Benghazi meanwhile killed 21 people earlier Monday.

Hospital officials in the port city, the birthplace of the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled dictator Moammar Gadhafi, said at least 11 soldiers were among the dead and 112 people wounded.

The government of outgoing prime minister Thani said it was holding an "emergency meeting" on the violence, which residents said eased in the afternoon.
It was the deadliest violence since 76 people were killed in mid-May as rogue general Khalifa Haftar unleashed an offensive dubbed "Operation Dignity" to purge Libya of extremists he brands "terrorists".

Underscoring the mounting chaos in the North African country, gunmen on Monday opened fire on the road convoy of army chief Abdessalam Jadallah al-Abidi in Tripoli, without causing casualties, his spokesman said.
Colonel Ali al-Shikhi said the guards of Abidi, who has criticized Haftar's actions in Benghazi, returned fire.

An air force commander said the clashes in Benghazi erupted when three Islamist groups, including Ansar al-Sharia, attacked a base of elite forces who support Haftar.
Images posted on the Internet showed army assault helicopters firing missiles at suspected extremist targets.

The fighting triggered by Haftar's operation has triggered panic in Benghazi, Libya's second city where hospitals appealed to people to donate blood.
"Benghazi is suffering, people are fed up, spare them," the head of the Benghazi Medical Centre, Doctor Leila Buigiguis, said in remarks broadcast on television.
The education ministry closed schools, forcing the postponement of scheduled final exams.

Residents cowered indoors and many shops and businesses were closed as gunfire rang out and explosions shook Benghazi, witnesses said.
They said some families were trapped in the western neighborhood of Sidi Freij, a stronghold of Ansar al-Sharia.

Haftar spokesman Mohamed al-Hijazi called on residents in combat zones across Benghazi to evacuate.

Colonel Saad al-Werfelli, who commands the Benghazi air force base, said the extremists "bombarded base 21 early on Monday, killing and wounding soldiers who were trapped inside".

The air force retaliated by launching strikes on the assailants, added Werfelli, who along with the elite forces backs Haftar's campaign against militants accused of repeated violence in Benghazi.
The latest bloodshed comes a day after Haftar's forces launched fresh air raids on extremists in Benghazi, with one strike targeting a meeting of Ansar al-Sharia, one of his aides said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team