Libyan parliament ousts Ali Zeidan's government

The Libyan General National Congress passed a vote of no confidence in Ali Zeidan’s government ousting it from power with 124 votes.

The Libyan News Agency quoted sources from the Congress saying National Congress appointed Defence Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni as temporary president for 15 days until a new president is elected.

The General National Congress, the highest political and legislative authority in Libya, had announced earlier its intention to vote to oust Ali Zeidan’s government, according to Minister of Parliament Suad Gannur.

She also added: “The situation in the country has become unacceptable. Even those MPs who used to support the prime minister no longer have any alternative.”

Zeidan’s government has been repeatedly criticised for its failure to establish security in the country in the two years since the overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi’s dictatorship in 2011.

It is also being criticised for failing to reach a solution to an oil crisis that has gone on for months after protestors closed down the main oil ports in an effort to export their first cargo without state supervision.

Zeidan, the independent backed by the Liberals, accuses the Islamists of wanting to overthrow him in order to seize control over Libya and refused to resign.