Libya’s parliament withdraws law to establish constitutional court

By Moataz Wanis

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) – Libya’s parliament has retracted a law to establish a constitutional court in the eastern city of Benghazi following controversy.

This came in a joint statement issued by the East Libya-based House of Representative and the Tripoli-based High Council of State (HCS), which acts as a senate.

"We agreed not to issue the law establishing the Constitutional Court so that it does not conflict with the outcomes of the constitutional rule,” the statement said.

“This statement comes as a reassurance to all political parties regarding the controversy over the aforementioned law,” it added.

On Dec. 7, HCS chairman Khaled al-Mishri suspended communications with Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh until the law is revoked.

The two rivals have been conducting negotiations for months to agree on a constitutional basis for holding elections in the war-torn country.

Oil-rich Libya has remained in turmoil since 2011 when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted after four decades in power.

* Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report