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| Libyan defence minister Barghathi resigns over siege | Libyan defence minister Barghathi resigns over siege |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Libya's Defence Minister Mohammed al-Barghathi has resigned in protest over a siege by gunmen on the ministries of justice and foreign affairs. | Libya's Defence Minister Mohammed al-Barghathi has resigned in protest over a siege by gunmen on the ministries of justice and foreign affairs. |
| The militiamen had been demanding the introduction of a law banning Gaddafi-era officials from holding office. | The militiamen had been demanding the introduction of a law banning Gaddafi-era officials from holding office. |
| On Sunday, a week after the siege began, parliament passed the law. | |
| "I will never be able to accept that politics [can] be practised by the power of weapons," Reuters news agency quotes the defence minister as saying. | "I will never be able to accept that politics [can] be practised by the power of weapons," Reuters news agency quotes the defence minister as saying. |
| The gunmen had said they would not leave the ministries before the passage of the bill banning those who had held positions under former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi from holding office. | The gunmen had said they would not leave the ministries before the passage of the bill banning those who had held positions under former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi from holding office. |
| "This is an assault against the democracy I have sworn to protect," said Mr Barghathi, who was the commander of the Benghazi air force before he retired on a government pension in 1994. | "This is an assault against the democracy I have sworn to protect," said Mr Barghathi, who was the commander of the Benghazi air force before he retired on a government pension in 1994. |
| The BBC's Rana Jawad reports from the capital, Tripoli, that the Political Isolation Law would apply to Mr Barghathi when it comes into effect. | The BBC's Rana Jawad reports from the capital, Tripoli, that the Political Isolation Law would apply to Mr Barghathi when it comes into effect. |
| It appears he resigned before his expected dismissal, she says. | It appears he resigned before his expected dismissal, she says. |
| The law could affect other senior members of the government, including Prime Minister Ali Zeidan. | The law could affect other senior members of the government, including Prime Minister Ali Zeidan. |
| Our correspondent says that since the law was passed a number of gunmen have withdrawn from the ministries, but some groups of heavily armed fighters still remain. | |
| Those at the foreign ministry - the first to be targeted on Sunday 28 April - said they were prepared to go but have not done so as yet, our reporter says. | |
| The gunmen outside the justice ministry, which was surrounded last Tuesday, have said they are waiting to be replaced by official security forces, our correspondent says. | |
| Gaddafi was toppled and killed in an uprising in 2011, after ruling Libya for more than 40 years. | Gaddafi was toppled and killed in an uprising in 2011, after ruling Libya for more than 40 years. |