Libya defense minister withdraws resignation

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Libyan government, al-Bargathi has changed his decision after Prime Minister Ali Zeidan asked him not to present his resignation at a cabinet meeting.
 
“The chief of the government asked the defense minister to rescind (his decision) and the minister said he understands, given the circumstances the country is going through, that he should continue in office,” the statement said.
 
Earlier in the day, al-Bargathi said he had decided to resign, adding that “I find myself compelled, despite opposition from my colleagues in recent days, to present (my resignation) voluntarily and without hesitation.”
 
He also said that the siege of ministries by armed men in the capital Tripoli “is an assault against the democracy I have sworn to protect.”
 
Since April 30, a number of armed men in vehicles equipped with anti-aircraft guns have surrounded the Justice Ministry building.
 
The Foreign Ministry has also been surrounded by some 200 armed men since April 28.
 
The armed men demand that the ministries ban the remnants of the former regime of Muammar Gaddafi from holding key posts and hire those who had helped topple the long-time dictator.
 
Meanwhile, under pressure from the gunmen, Libya’s General National Congress passed a law on Sunday, excluding officials from the era of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, including current Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, who served as a diplomat under the former regime, from holding key posts.
 
However, armed men continued the siege, saying, “The adoption of the law on political exclusion is a major step in the right direction. But we will take our time to examine certain aspects of the law.”
 
Libyans rose up against Gaddafi’s four-decade-long rule in February 2011 and deposed him in August 2011. The dictator was killed on October 20 of the same year.