"Aqailah Saleh has suspended his parliamentary membership as speaker of the House of Representative," member of the dissolved Tobruk parliament Tareq Al-Jaroshi has disclosed.
Aqailah declared his suspension following a heated debate Tuesday about selection of a defence minister for Al-Bayda-based government of the parliament.
Aqailah rejected the selection of Masoud Erhoma, who won majority of votes, as defence minister for Abdullah-Al-Thanni government saying Erhouma is wanted for the military prosecution in eight cases and that Khalifa Haftar, the renegade General of Dignity Operation, doesn't like him.
Masoud Erhouma is from the western city of Al-Rojban and his selection was backed by parliament members from Zintan, Al-Rojban, Al-Zawiya and Wirshiffana.
Reports say that Aqailah is now on holiday and is demanding a reverse of the selection vote in order to resume his duties again.