Ali Zeidan elected prime minister of Libya

Libya's legislative body, the General National Congress (GNC), has elected Ali Zeidan, a long-time opponent of Muammar Gaddafi, as prime minister.

"Ali Zeidan is elected prime minister and is asked to propose a cabinet within two weeks," Mohammed al-Megarief, president of the national assembly, said in remarks broadcast on television.

Benefiting from the backing of the liberal coalition in the 200-seat assembly, Zeidan won 93 of the votes cast on Sunday, trumping the 85 garnered by the only other candidate, local government minister Mohammed al-Hrari.

The GNC must approve the government team proposed by Zeidan in order for him to assume office. If his cabinet is accepted, Zeidan will take over from interim leader Abdul Raheem al-Keeb, who has held the post since November.

Outlining his programme at the assembly, Zeidan said that forming a professional army and police force was his "highest priority", in a nod to anti-militia protesters who have been calling for professional security forces.

He proposed an "intensive training and recruitment campaign to boost the ranks of army and police" by integrating new members who can replace officers from the previous regime.

Zeidan, 62, also cited transitional justice and national reconciliation as top priorities at a time when mounting intercommunal tensions, especially between rival cities Misrata and Bani Walid, risk plunging Libya into civil war.