A dozen men stormed Libya’s national assembly late on Tuesday prompting a postponement to a key vote on the Cabinet line-up proposed by Prime Minister Ali Zeidan.
Images aired on state television showed angry scenes in the chamber as assembly members prepared to vote one by one on the Cabinet.
Moments later, the protesters entered the assembly but security services kept them on the sidelines.
“What happened constitutes psychological pressure on the members of the congress,” said assembly president Mohammed Megaryef.
“Let it be known to all Libyans and to the whole world in what conditions we are working in... The session is adjourned,” he said, suggesting that the assembly convene again on Wednesday.
Libya’s new Prime Minister Ali Zeidan presented on Tuesday his 30-member Cabinet to the national assembly for approval in the hope of forming a coalition government after his predecessor failed.
Zeidan was elected on Oct. 14 after Mustafa Abu Shagur was dismissed in a vote of no confidence when the assembly rejected his Cabinet line-up as unrepresentative of Libya’s numerous factions.
The proposed Cabinet includes 27 ministers and three deputy prime ministers.
The assembly must approve the government team before Zeidan, a former diplomat and long-time opponent of ousted dictator Muammar Qaddafi, can assume office.
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