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Libya’s top court rejects appointment of new PM | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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President of Libya’s Supreme Court Kamal Edhan (C) chairs a hearing to discuss the legitimacy of Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq in Tripoli, June 9, 2014. (REUTERS/Stringer)


President of Libya's Supreme Court Kamal Edhan (C) chairs a hearing to discuss the legitimacy of Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq in Tripoli, June 9, 2014. (REUTERS/Stringer)

President of Libya’s Supreme Court Kamal Edhan (C) chairs a hearing to discuss the legitimacy of Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq in Tripoli, June 9, 2014. (REUTERS/Stringer)

Tripoli, Libya, AP—Libya’s top court on Monday rejected the Islamist-led parliament’s appointment of a new prime minister in a contested vote, ending one power struggle as a renegade general’s offensive against Islamist militias in the east continues to rage.

The Supreme Constitutional Court declared Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq’s appointment unconstitutional, but gave no further details or instructions. Islamists in parliament said they would abide by the decision, leaving interim Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni in office.

Thinni refused to give up his office after last month’s vote in parliament, which saw a walkout by secular lawmakers and Islamists secure votes from legislators that opponents said weren’t there. Maiteeq, a businessman who owns a luxury hotel in the capital, Tripoli, entered the government’s headquarters last week backed by an Islamist militia.

Twelve lawmakers later brought the matter to Libya’s Supreme Constitutional Court to challenge the vote that named Maiteeq as interim prime minister.

Saleh Al-Makhzoum, the second deputy of parliament, told journalists after the court decision that the body would comply with the decision for the sake of the “state of law.”

Libya has sunk into chaos following the downfall and the killing of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi in the country’s 2011 civil war. Heavily armed militias, born out of the rebel groups that toppled Gaddafi, now are the main power in the country.

The ruling comes as renegade General Khalifa Haftar continues to wage a military offensive against Islamist militias. Over the past weeks, forces allied with Haftar have bombed the camps of Islamist militias, which have attacked his forces, including an assassination attempt on Haftar that killed four people.

The general has warned he will detain Islamist lawmakers, accusing them of financing militias which he blames for much of Libya’s chaos. In turn, Islamist politicians and others have accused him of launching a “coup,” though many tired of the turmoil in Libya have backed him with mass rallies.