By Ahmed Elumami.
Tripoli, 21 May 2013:
Prime Minister Ali Zeidan today nominated Mohamed Khalifa Sheikh to replace Ashour Shuail as Interior Minister, . . .[restrict]calling on the General National Congress (GNC) to approve Sheikh and to swear him into office as soon as possible.
Shuwail submitted his resignation earlier this month following the passing of the Political Isolation Law, but the Prime Minister refused to accept it. .
However on Sunday evening, Zeidan said that despite his appeals to Shuwail to stay, the Interior Minister was determined to resign. He had agreed, however, to remain in office until a replacement was appointed,
That may not be until Sunday, according to Nuri Ali Abusahmain, General Rapporteur of the GNC. He told the Libya Herald that Congress members had received Sheikh’s CV of but it would probably be at the next session when they vote on him. That is on Sunday.
“I talked personally with Dr Ali Zaidan and asked for a delay in approving the new interior minister so there are no suspicions about him. We’ve given the nominee an opportunity to prepare his candidacy and present it next Sunday,” Abushamain said.
Khalifa Shiekh is from Suq Al-Jumaa, which could help rally support from this key district to the government. According to Jumaa Sayeh, member of Congress’ Defence Committee, he had been an assistant to former Interior Minister Fawzi Abdelal but there were personal differences between the two which resulted to Sheikh’s departure. [/restrict]
