Presiding Judge of the Libyan Supreme Court Kamal Edhan (C) declares a court ruling on June 9, 2014, in Tripoli, Libya. Libya's Supreme Court ruled on Monday the election of new prime minister Ahmed Maitiq was " unconstitutional." (Xinhua/Hamza Turkia)
TRIPOLI, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Supreme Court ruled on Monday the election of new prime minister Ahmed Maitiq was " unconstitutional," ending the weeks-long puzzle over who is country's legitimate premiere.
The court presented several violations recorded during the election and declared the parliamentary vote violated the constitution, a source in the Supreme Court Constitutional Chamber told Xinhua.
"The constitutional chamber noticed a pack of law violations committed by the interim parliament, therefore there is no doubt that the election procedure and process is invalid," the source said. The source added that all evidences and documents will be displayed in the next few days.
Maitiq responded on Monday that he would respect the ruling and surrender his post, adding his decision could remind Libya's politicians to respect "the rule of law."
Second Deputy of Parliament Saleh al-Makhzoum said in a press conference that General National Congress will comply with the decision. Libya was stuck in a political deadlock due to the power struggle between the acting prime minister Abdullah Thinni and his newly-elected successor Maitiq.
Maitiq, a businessman from Libya's third largest city of Misrata, was sworn in as prime minister last month. But he was immediately challenged by Thinni and some judicial officials who charged that the earlier parliamentary confidence vote which confirmed Maitiq as the new premier was invalid, because less than half of the lawmakers, mostly Maitiq supporters, attended the session.
Thinni has refused to hand over power, although forces allegedly loyal to Maitiq last week occupied the government compound.
Libya's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Maitiq's election violated the constitution "in principle." But the court adjourned a final ruling on Maitiq's legitimacy to Monday.
