Gathafi names son second-in-command

The post is equivalent to head of state

 

Seif al-Islam appointed as 'coordinator of social and popular committees' in Libya.

TRIPOLI - Libyan leader Moamer Gathafi has presented his son Seif al-Islam as head of state with powers second only to those of the long-ruling colonel, an online newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Islam, widely seen as heir apparent, was expected to become "coordinator of social and popular committees," a position equivalent to head of state, the newspaper Korina reported.

Gathafi asked senior administrators last week to find an official position for Islam, his second son, to allow him to implement reforms, according to Libya Al-Youm, a usually well-informed website.

The committees, in theory the highest executive body in the country and include tribal and regional leaders, have since met to "discuss the position to assign" to Islam, Korina reported on Tuesday.

They "decided unanimously to appoint Seif al-Islam to the post of coordinator of social and popular committees," including authority to oversee the parliament, government and security" in Libya, the site said.

Gathafi announced on Monday that he would meet "representatives of the Libyan people" on Tuesday to discuss national topics.

Libya Al-Youm said the Libyan leader recommended not restricting his son's job to a four-year government term of office, so that he could complete his reforms.

In theory, Gathafi does not appoint ministers. They are selected by the influential people's committees for ratification by the People's Congress, or parliament, the highest legislative body.

Seif al-Islam has been leading a project for the past two years to modernise the government, though without questioning the leader's power or overturning the regime's basic principles.

Announced with grand pomp in August 2007, the programme includes proposals for a constitution and a 70-billion-dollar (47.3 billion euro) economic development plan, but has met resistance from the old guard in the oil-rich country.

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