Libyans damage the car of National Transitional Council Chairperson Mustafa Abdul Jalil in protest against the council’s policy in Benghazi on Saturday night (Reuters photo by Esam Al Fetori)
Jordan Times: Agencies | Jan 23,2012
BENGHAZI — The head of Libya’s transitional government on Sunday suspended delegates from Benghazi, the city that kicked off the movement that toppled ruler Muammar Qadhafi last year.
The move follows protests in Benghazi accusing the body of corruption and not moving fast enough on reform. It was prompted by street protests and rejected by the delegates, the Associated Press reported.
The announcement came the day after protesters stormed the National Transitional Council (NTC) offices in Benghazi and carted off computers, chairs and desks while Mustafa Abdul Jalil, head of the NTC, was holed up inside.
Reuters reported that Abdul Jalil warned on Sunday that the country could be heading towards a “bottomless pit”.
He said that, following the protests on Saturday night, he had accepted the resignation of Benghazi’s mayor and elections would be held for a replacement, Reuters reported.
“We are going through a political movement that can take the country to a bottomless pit,” Abdul Jalil told a news conference in Benghazi. Addressing protesters’ demands that the new government was not doing enough, he appealed for more time.
Abdul Jalil told AP he suspended the six representatives from Benghazi, the main city in eastern Libya. They can continue to serve only if approved by the local city council.
Abdul Jalil said he appointed a council of religious leaders to investigate corruption charges and identify people with links to the Qadhafi regime.
The NTC’s deputy head, Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, resigned in protest over the suspensions.