Cracks emerge in Libyan coalition

An Islamist Libyan leader, Sheikh Ali Sallabi, on Wednesday accused the number two of the interim leadership, Mahmud Jibril, of "stealing the revolution" and laying the foundations for a totalitarian state.

"The premise of a totalitarian state is palpable by the action of Mahmud Jibril, who seeks to give his relatives the means to control the state," said Sallabi, who is supported by Qatar, and has played a key role in funding and arming the fighters of the new Libyan leadership.

Sallabi, when contacted by telephone in Qatar, accused Jibril of "stealing the revolution," and criticised him for choosing Ali Tarhuni to head the oil portfolio at the expense of other managers experienced in managing the "the livelihood of Libyans."

Sallabi did not say which of his family members Jibril had allegedly favoured, and it was not immediately known if he is related to Tarhuni.

"We do not want to revive the era of (Moamer) Gaddafi," Sallabi said.

"We do not want him (Jibril) to remain in the post for eight months, which will give him an opportunity to strengthen his control of the state apparatus," said Sallabi, mentor of Abdelhakim Belhaj, head of the Tripoli military council and suspected of having links with Al-Qaeda.

"We must choose a patriotic prime minister who has a consensus among all Libyans and not necessarily Islamist," he said, further accusing Jibril of "wanting to use money and power to silence the Libyans."

Jibril, a liberal, said Sunday that a "new government will be formed within one week to 10 days."

Jibril, who serves as the "prime minister" of the National Transitional Council, the political wing of the rebellion that overthrew strongman Gaddafi, also said that "his new government will include representatives from different regions in Libya."

Sallabi said he intended to return to Tripoli soon.

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