The General National Congress, which has governed violence-wracked libya in the wake of the overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi, said on Wednesday it will hand over legislative power to a newly-elected Parliament on August 4.
But hopes that the announcement would signal an end to fighting among rival factions were dashed as a more than week-long battle intensified for control of Tripoli airport.
“Monday, August 4 has been set as the date for the transfer of power ... To the elected chamber,” the GNC said in a statement signed by its speaker, Nuri Abu Sahmein.
The handover is to take place within two weeks as specified of Monday’s publication of the election results.
Under a law passed by the GNC, the new Assembly is to sit in the eastern city of Benghazi, which was the bastion of the 2011 uprising but has since epitomised the lawlessness of post-Gaddafi libya. In Tripoli, there was no sign of a ceasefire on Tuesday between the rival factions
fighting around the capital’s airport.