Deputy Prime Minister of UN-imposed government Ali Al-Gotrani has threatened to withdraw his membership again if a defense minister for the government was nominated.

Sources said Al-Gotrani wants the defense minister position to stay vacant for at least two months amid the rejection of western signatories of Skhirat agreement to assign the ministry for a pro-Khalifa Haftar figure.

His request, if approved, would allow Khalifa Haftar to remain in his current position as commander-in-chief of Tobruk Parliament forces in the light of HoR request to annul article 08 of Skhirat agreement.

On the other hand, Benghazi member of the Presidency Council Fathi Al-Mijbri is demanding that the defense minister post be assigned to former nominee Al-Mihdi Al-Baragthi who is at odds with Khalifa Haftar but still operates under his operation. Ali Al-Gotrani also refuses this and clings to his request to freeze the post.   

Last month, Al-Gotrani, a strong ally of rogue Gen. Khalifa Haftar, suspended his membership in protest, demanding official recognition of what he called "the Libyan army" headed by Haftar himself.

He revoked his suspension decision after his parliament approved Skhirat agreement as a political deal on the condition that article number 08 be deleted amid uncertainty over the deletion.

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