Libyan parliament to choose new central bank governor next week

TRIPOLI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives (parliament) will choose a new governor of the country's central bank next week, a parliament member said.

"We hope to hold a session to choose a new governor of the central bank, a step that was much delayed due to political division," parliament member Omar Ghaith told Xinhua.

Ghaith said the selection of central bank governor depends on technical and security factors.

Despite signing a UN-sponsored peace agreement by the political factions, Libya remains politically divided amid insecurity and unrest.

The division also includes the central bank, which is divided between the east and the west of the country.

Libya's foreign exchange reserves have shrunk over the past four years. The country suffered losses of more than 140 billion U.S. dollars due to repeated closure of oil fields and ports by conflict. Enditem