Libya’s new defence minister says one of his top priorities is to rebuild the country’s military.
Osama al-Juwali says the primary obstacle he faces is unifying the various revolutionary factions that helped topple Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in an eight-month civil war.
He says that “we have to reorganise” but that it is too early to disarm fighters still in the capital of Tripoli.
Al-Juwali was commander of revolutionary forces from the western mountain town of Zintan. His fighters helped storm Tripoli in August and then capture Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, last month.
Al-Juwali was sworn in Sunday before the country’s new leaders and other Cabinet ministers. — Sapa-AP