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Journalism of Courage
Libya’s new Prime Minister Ali Zeidan,a career diplomat has strong India connections.
62-year old Zeidan shot into prominence when he was sent to work in Libyan embassy in India in the late 1970s alongside the Ambassador Mohamed Yousef el-Magariaf,Al Jazeera reported.
Both Zeidan and el-Magariaf hit the headlines when they defected in 1980 to form the National Front for the Salvation of Libya.
Zeidan a local council member of the city of Tripoli and a member of Libya’s National Assembly was elected the new Prime Minister in a televised count,just a week after the last PM was dismissed in a vote of no-confidence.
The career diplomat shot into prominence as the revolt against late former dictator Muammar Gaddafi gained ground. Then based in exile in Geneva,Zeidan played a prominent role in seeking support for the rebels from the west.
After Gaddafi’s ouster and death at the hands of the rebels,Zeidan was elected as a member of Libya’s General National Congress (GNC) in the country’s first ever elections in July 2012.
Elected as an independent,Zeidan is known to be close to transition leader Jibril’s National Force Alliance.
However,Zeidan can only assume office if GMC approves the government team proposed by him. If his cabinet is accepted,Zeidan will take over from Abdel Rahim al-Kib,who has held the post since November 2011.
