Libya parliament ousts Prime Minister

Libya's parliament has passed a no-confidence vote in the new prime minister, removing him from his post, in the latest blow to stability in the war-ravaged country.

Mustafa Abushagur was Libya's first elected prime minister after last year's overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi that ended eight months of civil war.

He had 25 days from his appointment to form a cabinet approved by parliament, but that deadline expired on Sunday as legislators moved to unseat him. The General National Congress voted 125 to 44 in favour of removing him as prime minister, with 19 abstaining.

Until a replacement can be nominated, management of Libya's government is in the hands of the legislature.

Abushagur represented an offshoot of the country's oldest anti-Gaddafi opposition movement, and was considered a compromise candidate acceptable to both liberals and Islamists.

But he failed to produce a list of ministers that could win the approval of enough legislators. After 40 years of Gaddafi's divide-and-rule tactics and the 2011 war, Libya's towns, tribes and regions are highly polarised. Many feel entitled to high government positions because of their losses in the war against Gaddafi, and are wary of any power wielded by their rivals.

In an indication of the charged atmosphere, Abushagur withdrew his line-up for government after the parliamentary chamber was stormed on Thursday by protesters from the city of Zawiya - one of several cities that took the brunt of Gaddafi's attacks during the war - demanding representation. Lawmakers left the General National Congress floor, saying they would not vote under pressure.

Before the vote of no-confidence, Abushagur said he was aiming to create a government of national unity that did not appoint minister according to "quotas".

"The government I proposed is not perfect and was marred by some mistakes, so I changed it for the purpose of national unity," he said.

He had submitted 10 names for key posts for parliament's approval, saying the remaining 19 posts would be managed by his proposed deputy prime minister. But congress instead voted to remove him.

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Libya parliament ousts Prime Minister