TRIPOLI, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan government recently approved by the House of Representatives held its first meeting on Thursday in the southern city of Sabha.
"We have decided to start working as a legitimate government approved by the legislative authority in a democratic and fair manner. We will look after the interests of our country and our people," Prime Minister-designate Fathi Bashagha said during the meeting.
The meeting discussed government programs, the public budget, and the reasons for the recent closures of Libyan oilfields and ports, according to the government's information office.
Bashagha also said that his government would soon assume office in capital Tripoli, where the current Government of National Unity headed by Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah is based.
However, Dbeibah refuses to hand over office to Bashagha's government, saying that his government would continue working and only hand over office to an elected government.
Libya has been suffering political instability and chaos ever since Muammar Gaddafi's fall in 2011. ■
