Libya's divisions seemed poised to deepen on Thursday as the eastern-based parliament named a new prime minister, with the incumbent refusing to step aside. The move threatens to plunge Libya back to the split between two warring, parallel administrations that governed from 2014 until a unity government was installed last year as part of a UN-backed peace plan.
A spokesman for the parliament said it had chosen former interior minister Fathi Bashagha by acclamation after the only other candidate withdrew. However, Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, who heads the internationally recognized Government of National Accord has rejected the parliament's moves, saying he will only hand power after a national election. The parliament wants to take control of Libya's political future after the collapse of an election that was planned for December, saying Dbeibah's interim government is no longer valid and pushing any new election back until next year.
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