Libyan revolt appoints provisional government

AP , Sunday 27 Feb 2011

A member of the Benghazi city council says the Libyan cities under rebel control have appointed an ex-justice minister to lead a provisional government

Libya
Men paint a pre-Gaddafi flag of Libya in Benghazi 26 February 2011. The flag was used in gaining independence from Italy (Reuters)

Fathi Baja, member of the Benghazi city council,  says opponents of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi named Mustafa Abdel-Jalil to the provisional leadership post.

Baja said Sunday that Abdel-Jalil was chosen by the committees running the eastern Libyan cities now in the rebellion's hands.

On Saturday, Libya's top envoy to the US also said Gadhafi opponents were rallying behind efforts to form an alternative government led by Abdel-Jalil, who has criticized Gaddafi's brutal crackdown on protesters.

It was not immediately clear how much support the proposed provisional leadership commands.

The uprising against Gaddafi began in Benghazi on February 15.

The rebels now control most of the eastern half of the country.

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