Haftar’s government resigns over unprecedented demonstrations

Shafaq News / Recognized internationally as Libya's prime minister, Abdullah al-Thinni head of one of the two parallel governments in Libya, submitted the resignation of his interim government at a meeting of the House of Representatives.

The Speaker of Parliament, Aguila Saleh Issa, had called for an emergency meeting after the popular demonstrations in several cities in eastern Libya, controlled by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the most important of which were Benghazi and Marj.

Saleh postponed the decision on the resignation until it is presented to the House of Representatives in the next session, without setting a date for it.

 In the demonstrations, the protesters denounce the poor living situation, such as the continuous electricity cuts and the lack of liquidity in banks, and demand accountability from those responsible. These demands were supported by Haftar's forces, according to his spokesman, Ahmed Al-Mismari.

Protesters, who took to the streets of Benghazi on Saturday night - and Sunday night, set fire to the headquarters of the parallel government, which is based in the second largest city in the country, causing severe material damage, according to a security source.

 On Sunday, Major General Ahmed Al-Mismari, spokesman for Haftar's forces, expressed the army's support for the demonstrations, but warned against using it badly, he said.

The second government on the other side in western Libya, the Libyan Government of National Accord, decided to suspend the Minister of Interior, Fathi Bashagha and to refer him to the administrative investigation on the background of unidentified gunmen opening fire on peaceful demonstrators in the capital, Tripoli, at the end of last August.

Libyans demonstrate daily in Tripoli, for the same reasons as Benghazi protesters, too protest against corruption and deteriorating public services,