Libya’s ambassador to the U.S., Ali Aujali, has resigned.
A high-level source in Tripoli confirmed Mr. Aujali’s resignation to The Washington Times on Monday evening, but did not give a reason for his departure.
Mr. Aujali was unavailable for comment. Mr. Aujali served as Moammar Gadhafi’s ambassador to the U.S. from 2009.
He quit that post at the start of the uprising against the regime in February of 2011, but continued to serve as the rebels’ envoy in Washington.
In January, Mr. Aujali cited personal reasons when he turned down an offer to serve as Libya’s foreign minister, despite being cleared by a panel that investigated his past ties to the Gadhafis.
Seven other Cabinet nominees were also vetted by an Integrity Commission.
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In Tripoli, meanwhile, hundreds of former rebels have laid siege to Prime Minister Ali Zeidan’s office demanding that he resign in accordance with a controversial political isolation bill that would ban members of the former Gadhafi regime from political office.
Like Mr. Aujali, Mr. Zeidan was a career diplomat who represented the Gadhafi regime. He was serving at the Libyan Embassy in New Delhi when he defected from the regime in 1980.
Libyan lawmakers have been under pressure from militias to pass the political isolation bill.
Armed men attacked Libya’s parliament, the General National Congress, in Tripoli earlier this month demanding that lawmakers pass the bill.
Gunmen also fired on General National Congress president Mohamed al-Megariaf’s armored car, shredding its tires.
Gadhafi was killed by rebels in his hometown of Sirte on Oct. 20 of 2011.
• Ashish Kumar Sen can be reached at asen@washingtontimes.com.
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