Libyan rebel flag
© East News/AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill
Libyan rebels occupying major oil ports in the east of the OPEC producer said on Wednesday they would not deal with new Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq, branding him "illegitimate," Reuters reports. Maiteeq's predecessor Abdullah al-Thinni had reached an agreement with the rebels to reopen four eastern oil ports, but so far only the smaller ones Hariga and Zueitina have been handed over to government forces.

Both sides had agreed to hold further talks over reopening the larger Ras Lanuf and Es Sider exports terminals. But the rebels' comments on Wednesday suggested those efforts could hit difficulties.

"Maiteeq came to power illegally," rebel spokesman Ali Hasi said, without elaborating.

Maiteeq was sworn in on Sunday after a chaotic election in parliament. Many deputies have challenged his appointment.

The North African country has been mired in turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of strongman Muammar Gaddafi. Its government and army have struggled to assert authority over a country still awash with arms and rival militias.

A wave of seizures of export ports and oilfields across the desert nation has cut oil output to 250,000 barrels a day, down from 1.4 million bpd in the summer.

Libyan parliament names new PM after chaotic vote

Ahmed Maiteeq, a businessman backed by Islamists, has been chosen as Libya's new prime minister, second deputy speaker of the country's parliament Saleh al-Makhzoun said on Sunday.

"Ahmed Maiteeq is officially the new prime minister," Makhzoun told a chaotic session of the General National Congress.

Some lawmakers immediately challenged this, saying Maiteeq had failed to win the necessary quorum in an earlier vote.

After a chaotic session of the General National Congress (GNC), Maiteeq was initially reported to have mustered only 113 votes of 120 votes needed under the constitution in a vote of confidence.

But GNC official Makhzoum later said Maiteeq had in fact clinched 121 votes in the 185-seat interim parliament, apparently after a recount, beating off challenger Omar al-Hassi, a university professor.

Gunmen storm Libyan parliament, stop vote on next PM

Gunmen stormed Libya's parliament on Tuesday and opened fire, forcing lawmakers to abandon a vote on the next prime minister, witnesses said. Parliament spokesman Omar Hmeidan said several people were wounded in the shooting by the gunmen, who were linked to one of the defeated candidates for prime minister. He gave no name.

Lawmakers fled from the building, witnesses said. The incident ended quickly but the vote was postponed until next week.

The government has been unable to control armed groups and Islamists who helped oust Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 but refuse to disarm and have carved out regional fiefdoms. Militias have repeatedly attacked the interim General National Congress (GNC) to make political or financial demands.

Hmeidan said deputies had started the final vote on a replacement for Premier Abdullah al-Thinni, who resigned two weeks ago saying that gunmen had attacked his family, Reuters reports.

In the first ballot, businessman Ahmed Maiteeq came out on top among seven candidates. A second round between Maiteeq and the runner-up Omar al-Hasi had been meant to take place when the gunmen burst into the assembly.

The assembly is deadlocked between Islamists, tribes and nationalists, compounding a sense of chaos as Libya's fledgling army tries to assert itself against unruly ex-rebels, tribal groups and Islamist militants.

In February, it agreed to hold early elections in an effort to assuage Libyans frustrated at political chaos nearly three years after the fall of Gaddafi.

Deputies initially agreed to extend their term after their mandate ran out on Feb. 7 to allow a special committee time to draft a new constitution. But that move provoked protests from Libyans angry at the slow pace of political change.

Many people in the OPEC nation blame congress infighting for a lack of progress in the transition to democracy.