Ahmed Elumami and Taher Zaroog TRIPOLI — The mass resignation of a quarter of Misrata's local council is a very pubic confession of its failure in bringing about change. Seven members of the 28-strong Misrata local council submitted their resignation to their fellow councilors on the grounds that they were unable to provide the best for the city. Five members, including council head Ismael Shaklawon and his deputy Atiya Al-Draini, had their resignations rejected. Both Shaklawon and Al-Draini have apparently been persuaded to stay in the interests of the city. The pair had actually sought to step down from their positions but stay as councilors. Two other members, Zarooq Abdulhameed and Bader Qalous, were allowed to step down. The former had said that he wished to complete his studies abroad, which he had left at the revolution, Qalous had stepped down through ill health. The main reason behind the resignations was apparently the inability of some members of the council to meet the demands of the city's inhabitants. The finger of blame for this has been pointed at both government negligence and a lack of budget. Although Misrata was the first Libyan city to elect its local council after the fall of the old regime, two previous council heads, Salim Biet Almal and Yousef Bin Yousef, also resigned, citing very similar reasons. The bitterness felt by the city authorities at their lack of financial support from central government may be taking a wider form. It is reported that Misrata could refuse to hold GNC-ordered elections after Ramadan in protest at the new municipality boundaries. Specifically, there is a move to reject the creation of a separate municipality for Tawergha, which used to be run from Misrata. — Libya Herald
