TRIPOLI — Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zidan and the majority of his newly elected government were sworn in Wednesday at a ceremony here at the General National Congress (GNC) hall. The ceremony was attended by diplomatic corps, outgoing prime minister Abdurrahman Al-Kib and members of his government, members of the former National Transitional Council (NTC) as well as other prominent members of Libyan society. The ceremony was opened by GNC leader Mohamed Magarief who thanked the NTC of Mustafa Abdul Jalil, and Mahmoud Jibril's first post-revolution admninistration, the Executive Office, as well as the interim Al-Kib government. Gesturing toward those sitting ahead of him, Magarief said emphatically that ‘‘we would not be where we are today were it not for their efforts.'' Speaking about Zidan's term in office, Magarief went on to say that his GNC “looked forward to working closely with his government on all the forthcoming important issues that are facing the nation''. Zidan said that his “government was formed in difficult conditions and was faced by many obstacles before it received the vote of confidence. And here we are today at this swearing-in ceremony”. “I assured the head of the GNC that this government will give its utmost best to the nation based on the rule of law, human rights, democracy, rights, and the belief in God, His Prophet and a state based on Islam,” he added. Zidan went on to give a preview of the bases of his administration, saying that during meetings with his government-in-waiting they had looked at the challenges facing them and had decided to put the Transitional Constitutional Declaration as their guide. ‘'We will not give in to pressures that are contrary to this'', he stressed. He then explained that he would reveal his government's program shortly in a live TV broadcast to the nation. The new government then took it in turn to go up to the podium individually and swear the oath of office. The outgoing psymbolically handed over power to Zidan by presenting him with a small plaque in the shape of the map of Libya. — Libya Herald
