Libyan interior minister quits over Zeidan's interference

Libyan Interior Minister Mohamed al Sheik resigned Monday, saying he couldn't do his job properly because Prime Minister Ali Zeidan stripped away his authority. Interior Ministry spokesman Rami Kaal told the Libya Herald the minister of four months had said he had quit because Zeidan interfered and prevented Sheik from implementing changes concerning police and the ministry. Other sources indicated the minister was unhappy with what he described as interference by some of his deputy ministers. Still others said Sheik claimed a key reason he was leaving was pressure by some Libyan lawmakers to appoint their relatives to important security positions. Sheik, named interior minister after Ashour Shuwail resigned in May, said on state television he would remain in office until a replacement could be found. However, Zeidan accepted Sheik's resignation and appointed Deputy Prime Minister Saddiq Abdulkareem as interim minister.