Middle East Today: Libya --- Minister of Defense Quits

Troops Protecting Government Buildings in LibyaEgypt: Cabinet Reshuffle

Prime Minister Hisham Qandil has said 11 new ministers will be announced in a Cabinet reshuffle today.

The ministries affected include oil, higher education, and agriculture. A replacement will also be named for the Minister of Justice, Ahmed Mekky, who has resigned.

Libya: Minister of Defense Quits Over Gunmen's Siege

Minister of DefenseMohammed al-Bargathi has resigned after last week's siege by gunmen of Government ministries.

The armed group was calling for the exclusion from official positions of those involved with the Qaddafi regime, which was toppled in October 2011.

"I will never be able to accept that politics (can) be practiced by the power of weapons....This is an assault against the democracy I have sworn to protect," al-Bargathi said.

MPs said legislation barring Qaddafi-era represenatives from public positions could be applied to around 40 of 200 legislators and unseat the Prime Minister.

On Monday a spokesman for Parliament conceded that the siege of the ministries was out of the government's hands and that it would be up to the militiamen now to leave as promised.