TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Libya’s top court on Monday rejected
the Islamist-led parliament’s appointment of a new prime minister in a
contested vote, ending one power struggle as a renegade general’s
offensive against Islamist militias in the east rages on.
The
Supreme Constitutional Court declared Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteg’s
appointment unconstitutional, but gave no further details or
instructions. Islamists in parliament and Maiteg said they would abide
by the decision, thus leaving interim Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni
in office.
The top U.N. envoy to Libya called the decision and promises to abide by it "a sign of hope."

"This
will not solve the political crisis but at least it would open the way
forward towards a resumption of a normal political process," Tarek Mitri
told reporters after briefing the U.N. Security Council in New York.
Al-Thinni
refused to give up his office after last month’s vote in parliament,
which saw a walkout by secular lawmakers and Islamists secure votes from
legislators that opponents said weren’t there. Maiteg, a businessman
who owns a luxury hotel in the capital, Tripoli, entered the
government’s headquarters last week backed by an Islamist militia.
Twelve
lawmakers later brought the matter to Libya’s Supreme Constitutional
Court to challenge the vote that named Maiteg as interim prime minister.
Saleh
al-Makhzoum, the second deputy of parliament, told journalists after
the court decision that the body would comply with the decision for the
sake of the "state of law." Maiteg also said he would "be the first to
submit to the court decision and respect the judiciary."
"What
happened today is that we have made important gains toward building a
state of law and institutions that we all are seeking," he told
journalists.
Libya has sunk into chaos following the downfall and
the killing of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in the country’s 2011
civil war. Heavily armed militias, born out of the rebel groups that
toppled Gadhafi, now are the main power in the country.
Mitri said
the U.N. mission, which he heads, is planning to convene "a political
dialogue" including about 50 major participants from the government,
revolutionary groups, civil society, tribal communities, women and other
sectors on June 18-19.
The aim is to help facilitate a smooth political process leading to parliamentary elections slated for
June 25.
"The
stakes are high, and we will spare no effort in helping prevent Libya’s
descent into greater instability and violence," Mitri said.
The
ruling comes as renegade Gen. Khalifa Hifter wages an offensive against
Islamist militias. Over the past weeks, forces allied with Hifter have
bombed the camps of Islamist militias, which have attacked his forces,
including an assassination attempt on Hifter that killed four people.
The
general has warned he will detain Islamist lawmakers, accusing them of
financing militias which he blames for much of Libya’s chaos. In turn,
Islamist politicians and others have accused him of launching a "coup,"
though many tired of the turmoil in Libya have backed him with mass
rallies.
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Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.