Magharebia

The Coalition of Libyan Thwars and the Cyrenaica Military Council on Wednesday (January 4th) rejected the appointment of Yussef al-Mangoush as chief of staff of the new Libyan army, AFP reported.

The Tuesday appointment of Al-Mangoush, a former colonel in Kadhafi's military, is raising fresh security concerns. Forming a new army is seen as a key step towards disarming militias in Libya, especially in Tripoli, where a gunfight between ex-rebels on Tuesday killed four fighters.

The post of chief of staff has been vacant since the murder last July of General Abdel Fattah Younes, who commanded the rebels in eastern Libya against Kadhafi forces. Younes had been expected to head the new Libyan army.