Libya's new govt takes office

The newly-selected Libyan Government of National Unity on Tuesday officially took office from the outgoing UN-backed Government of National Accord, reported Xinhua.

An official ceremony was held in the government's headquarters in the capital Tripoli, where the new President of the Presidency County, Mohammed Menfi, praised the "peaceful handover of power."

Menfi confirmed the main task of the new executive authority will be to prepare for the upcoming elections later this year, and that power will be handed over to any elected executive authority.

The outgoing UN-backed prime minister, Fayez Serraj, stressed the need to achieve nation reconciliation in the country.

Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, the new prime minister, confirmed his government will spare no effort to carry out reforms, calling on all public institutions to join efforts to solve problems facing the people.

The Government of National Unity has been granted confidence by the House of Representatives (parliament) on Wednesday, and was sworn in office on Monday before the House of Representatives in the eastern city Tobruk.

The new executive authority was selected recently by the UN-backed Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF), which agreed to hold general elections in the country on Dec. 24, 2021.