Libyan government resigns for parliament to form new cabinet – reports

Libya’s interim government headed by Prime Minister Abdullah Thani has resigned to allow the new parliament to form a new cabinet, Reuters reported Friday citing a Libyan lawmaker, according to RIA Novosti.

“This is just a routine step. There is no conflict between Thinni and the House of Representatives,” a lawmaker was quoted as saying. “Thinni is a candidate to form the next government.”

According to the agency, Thinni’s cabinet said it had resigned according to Libya’s constitutional rules to allow the House of Representatives to form a government based on all parts of society.

Earlier this week, the General National Congress (GNC) replaced by the new parliament elected in June, named pro-Islamist Omar Hassi a new prime minister and charged him with forming a new government.

Thinni had been in power since March. For security reasons the government moved to the city of Tobruk, located in some 600 kilometers (360 miles) east of the country’s capital.