Libya's national assembly elects former diplomat as prime minister

Libya's General National Congress elected a new prime minister on Sunday, the second within a month to face the daunting challenge of forming a government acceptable to the country's many factions.

"Ali Zeidan is elected prime minister and is asked to propose a cabinet within two weeks," Muhammad Megaryef, president of the national assembly, said in remarks broadcast.

Benefiting from the backing of the liberal coalition in the 200-seat assembly, Zeidan won 93 of the votes cast, trumping the 85 garnered by the other candidate, local government minister Mohammed al-Hrari.