Libya elects new govt head

Abdel Rahim al-Kib, a native of Tripoli, was elected prime minister in a public vote carried out by the members of the National Transitional Council.The little-known academic who specialises in electrical engineering beat four other candidates, winning 26 out of 51 votes.This vote proves that Libyans are able to build their future, NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil said after he voted.NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen earlier made a brief visit to Tripoli, saying he foresaw no major role left for the alliance in Libya hours before its air mission was due to officially end.At midnight tonight, a successful chapter in NATOs history is coming to an end. But you have also started writing a new chapter in Libyas history, he told a joint press conference with Abdel Jalil.Rasmussen was whisked off directly for talks at the Rixos Hotel but later had a chance to talk about the countrys future with a group of about 60 young Libyans.The visit came seven months after Western powers fired the first barrage of missiles against Moamer Kadhafis forces in an air war that played a major role in ousting the veteran dictator.Operation Unified Protector was terminated even though Abdel Jalil had asked for the alliance to stay until the end of the year, warning that Kadhafi loyalists still posed a threat.But NATO deemed that civilians were safe from attacks after the new regime declared the country liberated following Kadhafis death and the fall of his hometown of Sirte on October 20.