Libya Congress elects human rights lawyer as new prime minister

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) -- Libya's 200-member General National Congress has elected a former congressman and human rights lawyer as the country's new prime minister.

Ali Zidan, who resigned as a congressman to run as a candidate in the election, won 93 votes, securing him a majority from those present in voting.

Zidan was a diplomat under Moammar Gadhafi before defecting in the 1980s and joining Libya's oldest opposition movement, National Front for the Salvation of Libya, from Geneva where he resided.

The congress selected the new prime minister Sunday following last week's dismissal of Mustafa Abushagur after just 25 days in the post for failing to present a Cabinet list that satisfied legislators. Zidan had previously run against Abushagur and lost.

Minister for local government, Mohammed Al-Harari, came in second place with 85 votes.