Libyan PM presents his coalition government

Ali Zeidan presents his government line-up to the national congress for approval and makes clear no region has been favoured over another.

TRIPOLI // The Libyan prime minister, Ali Zeidan, presented his government line-up to the national congress for approval yesterday, saying he had formed a "coalition government" which included representatives from the country's two major political parties.

In a televised session of congress, Mr Zeidan said he had nominated Ali Aujali, Libya's ambassador to the United States, to be foreign minister, and Abdelbari Al Arusi to be oil minister.

In a country where regional rivalries are rife, he said no area had been favoured more than another. "No region has been favoured over any other, the whole nation has been favoured," he told congress.

His government was made up of 27 ministers, he said, saying it would be replaced if it did not perform. Mr Zeidan appointed three deputy prime ministers.

Mohammed Al Barghathi was named defence minister, while Ashur Shuwail was named interior minister. Mr Zeidan named Ali Al Fasi as finance minister.

He said those posts, as well as the foreign and justice minister portfolios, would be filled by independents who were not affiliated to any party.

Mr Zeidan said the liberal National Forces Alliance and the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, the Justice and Construction Party, the two biggest parties in congress, were both represented in the putative government.

Mr Zeidan was elected prime minister by the congress this month after his predecessor, Mustafa Abushagur, was dismissed in a vote of no confidence after his choice of government ministers ran into opposition inside and outside the assembly.

A former career diplomat who defected in the 1980s to become an outspoken critic of Muammar Qaddafi, Mr Zeidan had been tight-lipped about the composition of his cabinet as he faced the daunting challenge of forming a government that would be acceptable to the Libya's many factions.

Congress will now vote on the proposed line-up.