Libya Interim Leader Tasked with Forming New Cabinet

Libya's parliament tasked the interim prime minister on Tuesday with forming a new cabinet, weeks after ousting his predecessor for failing to rein in the lawlessness gripping the country.

Prime minister Abdullah al-Thani, defense minister under ousted premier Ali Zeidan, will face the daunting task of bringing former rebel brigades to heel following the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ended Moammar Gadhafi's four-decade rule.

The country has seen near daily attacks, particularly in the restive east, as well as a challenge from rebels who have blockaded vital oil terminals and a growing political crisis stemming from the interim parliament's decision to extend its mandate.

Thani "has been confirmed as prime minister and charged with forming a new government" after replacing Zeidan on a temporary basis last month, MP Tahar al-Mokni told AFP.

Omar Hmidan, a spokesman for the General National Congress (GNC), the country's highest political authority, said Thani was chosen after legislators failed to reach a consensus on other candidates, and was given one week to form a new government.

Hmidan had earlier said the government threatened to resign if it was not granted wider powers. Government spokesman Ahmed Lamin confirmed the cabinet had requested wider powers but denied it had threatened to quit.

The decision to confirm Thani was rejected as illegal by some legislators, who said it had not received the required number of votes.

MP Suad Ganur said the decision, which was approved by 42 votes out of 76 members present, was "null and void" because it required 120 votes out of the 200-member assembly.

But Mokni said the larger margin of votes was not necessary because Thani had already been appointed acting prime minister by 124 votes.

Last month, the GNC ousted Zeidan after the military failed to prevent rebels from sending a tanker loaded with oil out from a blockaded port.

The ship was later captured by U.S. forces and handed over to Tripoli.

After his ouster, Zeidan was replaced by the 60-year-old Thani, an army colonel who retired in 1997, initially on a temporary basis.

GNC spokesman Hmidan said Thani would remain in office until the election of a new parliament, the date for which has not been set.

The interim parliament sparked outrage earlier this year when it decided to extend its mandate from February until December. Subsequent protests compelled it to promise early elections and a new electoral law.

Thani's appointment coincided with the third day of a general strike in Benghazi to protest against the lack of security in the eastern city, cradle of the 2011 revolt, which has seen near-daily attacks in recent months mainly targeting security forces.

Young people in the capital Tripoli had joined the protests Monday, blocking roads with burning tires, but traffic was back to normal on Tuesday.