Libya tribes protest at new govt line-up

Prime minister designate Abdurrahim El-Keib named a cabinet line-up which aimed to placate Libya’s patchwork of tribes, regional interests and ideological camps which are competing to fill the vacuum left by Muammar Gadhafi’s fall from power. The International Criminal Court chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, said during a visit to Tripoli that the trial of Gaddafi’s captured son, Saif al-Islam, could take place inside Libya.

There was no immediate sign of dissent over the cabinet from the most powerful interests - in particular the Islamists who were given none of the biggest government posts - but smaller groups complained they had been neglected.

About 150 people protested on Wednesday morning outside a hotel in the eastern city of Benghazi where the National Transitional Council has offices, a witness said.

The protesters held up banners saying: “No to a government of outsiders!” the witness said. The demonstration was led by members of the Benghazi-based Awagi and Maghariba tribes, who were angry their representatives were not in key posts.

A group calling itself the Libyan Amazigh Congress called for a suspension of all relations with the NTC over the formation of the government.

“The temporary freezing will be effective until the NTC reconciles with the demands of Amazigh Libyans,” the group said in a statement.