Libya gets new prime minister

Libya's former housing and public works minister Moubarak al-Chamekh has been appointed secretary general (Prime Minister) of the new Libyan government, known as the General People's Committee, Panafrican news agency PANA reported.

Libya's former housing and public works minister Moubarak al-Chamekh has been appointed secretary general (Prime Minister) of the new Libyan government, known as the General People's Committee, Panafrican news agency PANA reported.

The new cabinet was announced Wednesday night in Sirte, 450 km east of Tripoli, at the end of the People's General Congress.

The 50-year old Al Chamekh replaces Ahmed Al-Mangouche, who had held the post since 1998.

The new Cabinet has been reduced to five members from the previous a 19-member government severely criticized by the congress over bad governance.

The remaining 14 general people's committees (ministries) have been dissolved and their powers transferred to municipal councils or people's communes.

The only ministries retained are those of justice and general security, external relations and international co-operation, finance and information and culture.

The new external relations minister is Abdel Rahman Chalgham, who has served for nearly five years.

Chalgham, a journalist by career who had managed several newspapers and the Libyan News Agency, takes over from Omar Mountassir, who stepped down on health grounds.

Meanwhile, Mrs Fouzia Chalabi was maintained as information and culture minister, and was also given the tourism portfolio.

Mohamed Zouai kept his position as minister of justice and general security while Mohamed Bei Ul Mal remained at finance.

On the other hand, the congress created a new African Unity ministry, whose minister is Ali Triki, Libya's specialist on African affairs for the past 12 years.

Triki, who has also served as Libya's ambassador to France, was appointed deputy foreign minister in charge of African affairs in 1998.

News Agencies