Bashagha sworn in as Libya's new premier

TRIPOLI, Libya

Former Libyan Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha was sworn in on Thursday as the country's new prime minister at the House of Representatives in the eastern city of Tobruk.

Bashagha took his oath of office after his government emerged from a confidence vote with the support of 92 lawmakers out of a total of 166, according to state-run TV news.

"Will begin studying all options and measures necessary to take power in Tripoli by the force of law," Bashagha said after taking the oath.

But he also vowed to "work together to achieve reconciliation and justice," saying: "We will work with determination to end the transitional stages."

On Feb. 10, the House of Representatives named Bashagha to form a new government.

Bashagha also condemned "unjustified escalation, as the airspace was closed to prevent the arrival of ministers to take the constitutional oath, as well as an armed group attacking some ministers."

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives demanded, in a statement, that the government of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh hand over power in a democratic way to allow the new government to begin its duties from the capital Tripoli.

The statement also condemned what it claimed "kidnapping of new government's ministers, the closure of the airspace and the closure of the coastal road (the link between the east and west of the country)” and held Dbeibeh’s government fully responsible for ensuring the safety of ministers and representatives.

On Tuesday, the Libyan House of Representatives in Tobruk announced granting confidence to a new government headed by Bashagha.

In a televised speech on Tuesday, Bashagha said his government will assume its duties in Tripoli "peacefully," stressing the importance of "reconciliation," adding that his government "did not come for revenge."

Commenting on Tuesday's session, Stephanie Turco Williams, the secretary-general of the UN Support Mission in Libya, expressed her concern saying the session “fell short of the expected standards of transparency and procedures and included acts of intimidation prior to the session.”

Also, on Thursday, Williams reiterated in a tweet “the fundamental importance of preserving security, stability and unity, and refraining from acts of escalation provocation and violence.”

The incumbent government, headed by Dbeibeh, has announced continuing its duties, accusing the House of Representatives of "rigging" the quorum set for granting confidence.

The government said it would consider any attempt to storm its headquarters an "attack against government headquarters, claiming an unofficial capacity, and it would deal with such moves in accordance with the correct law."

The Dbeibeh government came to power based on the outcomes of the Libyan Dialogue Forum that set the term of the transitional executive authority at 18 months, extending until June 24.