Libya's ex-parliament reconvenes, appoints new Islamist-backed PM

Libya's previous parliament held a meeting on Monday, seeking to sack the current government led by Abdullah al-Thinni and replace him with the Islamist-backed Omar al-Hasi as prime minister, a parliamentary spokesman said.
The Islamist-dominated General National Congress (GNC) asked Hasi to form a new "national salvation government," in defiance of the current government. "We hope Hasi will submit his cabinet during the next few days," the spokesman said.
The Monday announcement reflects the North African country's frayed political process, which is now juggling two rival parliaments and governments. Though the term of the GNC ended with national elections in June, it refused to transfer power to the new parliament.
Prime Minister Al-Thinni later in the day responded GNC's statement as a "surprise," denouncing it illegal since the ex- parliament had lost it legislative power.
"The current government will continue to work and perform its duties under the instructions of the House of Representatives, the sole representative of the Libyans, recognized by the whole world, " Al-Thinni said.
Libya's current parliament, the House of Representatives, was elected on June 25 when Islamist lawmakers suffered a major setback, receiving only 20 out of the parliament's 200 seats.
Since July 13, Tripoli has endured bloody clashes between Islamist armed groups and pro-secular militias, both seeking to gain control of Tripoli's international airport.
Some analysts say the recent clashes, started by the Libya Dawn group and its allied Islamist armed groups, are Islamist attempts to regain momentum on Libya's political stage.
The conflict has spread to other major cities like Benghazi, Gharyan and Zawiya. Islamist fighters on Saturday claimed that they had controlled Tripoli's international airport, one of the key strongholds for pro-secular militia.
Meanwhile, in the second largest city of Benghazi, Islamist forces have seized nearly 80 percent of the area.
A spokesperson for the GNC on Saturday evening called on people to abandon the current newly-elected parliament. Soon after, the House of Representatives declared the warring Islamist armed groups in Tripoli and Benghazi, including Libya Dawn and Ansar al- Sharia, are "terrorists."
Libya has witnessed a drastic escalation of violence since the 2011 turmoil, which toppled its former leader Muammar Gaddafi, and its political transition has since been mired in the endless fights between Islamist and secular factions.