By KARIN LAUB | AP

Published: Nov 12, 2011 19:02 Updated: Nov 12, 2011 19:19

TRIPOLI: Libya won’t turn into an extremist Islamic country, its interim leader assured the European Union’s top diplomat on Saturday, adding that the formation of a new government of experts is to be completed in the coming week.

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, chairman of the National Transitional Council, caused a stir in the West last month when he said Islamic Shariah law would be the main source of legislation in the new Libya and that tenets violating it would be nullified.

At a news conference with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, he addressed those concerns. “We will not be an extremist Islamic country,” he said. “Our Islam is moderate.”

Other NTC members have said Abdul-Jalil had expressed his personal views on the role of Shariah law. They noted that a constitution, which would address the role of religion in Libya, will only be written next year.

As part of Libya’s transition to democracy, following the capture and killing of dictator Muammar Qaddafi last month, a new interim government will run the country until a national assembly is elected by June. The recently appointed prime minister, Abdurrahim el-Keib, is to present a list of names of ministers to the NTC in the coming week, Abdul-Jalil said Saturday.

Ministers would be chosen based on expertise, not tribal considerations, he said.

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