Libya's ruling council decides to keep current cabinet in place

Tripoli, Apr 30 (ANI): The head of Libya's ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) has said that the interim government would stay in place to ensure the success of the June elections for a constituent assembly.

"Because of concerns about stability and building the state during this delicate stage... and to guarantee the success of the election... the council has decided to keep on the interim government," NTC chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil said.

The fate the interim government was decided at a high level meeting less than two months before the first national elections to be held following the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

According to News24, Abdel Jalil said the government should 'focus its efforts on several points during this difficult period.'

He listed areas such as decentralisation of power, restoring security and the authority of the state, collecting weapons and boosting border security.

Several NTC members had publicly attacked interim Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib and threatened a no confidence vote, particularly criticising his government for carrying out slow reforms.

According to the report, Abdel Jalil's statement smashed widespread expectations that there would be a cabinet reshuffle or even a government change after days of public barbs between the two branches of government. (ANI)