Libyan Oil Minister Defects the Country

'Liberated' Eastern Libya Adjusts To Life Without Gadhafi Rule

Shokri Ghanem, the Libyan Oil Minister defected from Libya as the rebels continue to war to end the 41-year-old-rule of the dictator Muammar al Gaddafi. Ghanem was the head of the National Oil Corporation. According to the reports, Ghanem crossed the Ras El Jedir crossing point last Saturday and checked into a hotel in the tourist island of Djerba.

At the moment Tripoli officials stated that there was no sign Ghanem had defected. Shokri had been in charge of the oil ministry since 2006, his oil ministry is the biggest income generator for the country.

A spokesman for NATO’s mission in Libya informed last Tuesday that the alliance has been urging the pro-Gadhafi force to disband and lay down their arms.

In Moscow, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, told that the Tripoli officials are ready to fully abide by the (UNSC) resolution 1973. If this happens there is no reason for the continuing NATO’s airstrikes. (AV)