Five Libyan ministers resign

Five ministers from Libya's Justice and Construction Party have said they would resign from the government on Tuesday, amid fresh violence west of the capital.

TRIPOLI // Libya’s Islamist Justice and Construction Party said on Tuesday its five ministers, including the oil minister, would resign from the government, complicating prime minister Ali Zeidan’s efforts to stabilise the Opec nation.

Two years after Muammar Qaddafi’s fall, the oil-producing North African state has struggled to overcome political turmoil and the challenge of heavily-armed ex-rebels and militants who fought in the 2011 revolt against the autocrat but now refuse to disarm.

At least two people were killed in clashes on Tuesday west of Tripoli when soldiers and militia allies attacked an area where they said gunmen loyal to Qaddafi were holed up.

Resignations by JCP, which repeatedly failed to secure a vote of no-confidence against Mr Zeidan, will deepen deadlock in the General National Congress (GNC) parliament, which has made little progress in Libya’s transition to democracy.

“Zeidan failed in his duty to provide security, and to deliver in the electricity and oil sectors,” said Nizar Kawan, a leading JCP member. “We had asked for a withdrawal of confidence, but some don’t understand the danger of the stage we are at now.”

The GNC is caught in a stalemate between the JCP, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the leading parliamentary party, National Forces Alliance, a more nationalist coalition.

Since the GNC was elected more than a year ago, infighting has delayed legislation, and Libya still has no constitution.

* Reuters