Libya: Ex-minister chosen to head rebel government
Member of Benghazi city council says Libyan cities under rebel control appointed former Justice Minister Mustafa Abdel-Jalil to lead provisional government. Britain revokes diplomatic immunity of Gaddafi, sons in UK. Rebels take control of city of Zawiyah
A member of the Benghazi city council said the Libyan cities under rebel control have appointed an ex-justice minister to lead a temporary government, the Daily Mirror reported Sunday.
Meanwhile, the British government revoked the diplomatic immunity in Britain of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his sons, Foreign Secretary William Hague said urging Gaddafi to step down. "Of course it is time for Col. Gaddafi to go," Hague said in a BBC interview.
"That is the best hope for Libya and last night I signed a directive revoking his diplomatic immunity in the United Kingdom, but also the diplomatic immunity of his sons, his family, his household, so it's very clear where we stand on his status as a head of state," he said.
The Daily Mirror reported that Fathi Baja said Gaddafi opponents named Mustafa Abdel-Jalil to the provisional leadership post. Abdel-Jalil recently resigned from Gaddafi's government in protest of the brutal suppression of protests.
The ex-minister declared Saturday he will work to establish a provisional government to take over from the current dictatorship. A local newspaper report suggests that the future government will be established in Benghazi which has been under rebel control for several days.
Last week, the former justice minister told Swedish newspaper Expressen that Gaddafi will commit suicide the way Adolf Hitler did at the end of World War II rather than surrender or flee.
"Gaddafi's days are numbered. He will do what Hitler did - he will take his own life."
Rebel take control of Zawiyah
Armed men opposed to the rule of Gaddafi are in control of the city of Zawiyah, about 50 km (30 miles) west of the capital Tripoli, a Reuters reporter in the town said.
The red, green and black flag of Libya's anti-Gaddafi rebellion was flying from a building in the center of the town and a crowd of several hundred people was chanting "This is our revolution," the reporter said.
Police stations and government offices have been torched and anti-Gadhafi graffiti is everywhere. Many buildings in the city are pockmarked by bullet holes.
"Gadhafi Out," chanted hundreds in the city center, where army tanks controlled by rebels are deployed.
Meanwhile, hospitals across Libya have turned to the international community for help following shortage in medical supply in the face of constant clahses, Sky News reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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