Scottish independence: Monarch 'above politics', Buckingham Palace says

The Queen holding an audience with Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond in Edinburgh in July

Continue reading the main story

Scotland Decides

• Referendum latest Live
• Round-up of the day
• What new powers might Scotland get?
• What's going on in Scotland?

Any suggestion that the Queen would wish to influence the Scottish referendum campaign is "categorically wrong", Buckingham Palace has said.

The comments follow press reports that Her Majesty was concerned about the prospect of Scottish independence.
It also follows a statement from First Minister Alex Salmond, who said the Queen "will be proud" to be the monarch of an independent Scotland.
The Palace insisted the referendum was "a matter for the people of Scotland".
A spokesman said: "The sovereign's constitutional impartiality is an established principle of our democracy and one which the Queen has demonstrated throughout her reign.
"As such the monarch is above politics and those in political office have a duty to ensure that this remains the case.
"Any suggestion that the Queen would wish to influence the outcome of the current referendum campaign is categorically wrong.
"Her Majesty is firmly of the view that this is a matter for the people of Scotland."
The BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt said he understands that the comments were made in response to calls for the Queen to speak out in favour of the union and not in response to Mr Salmond's remarks.
Balmoral audience SNP leader Mr Salmond said he had an audience with the Queen at Balmoral Castle two weeks ago but would not say what was discussed.
He dismissed press reports that Her Majesty was concerned about the prospect of Scottish independence.
"I want the Queen as head of state, as Queen of Scots of an independent Scotland, as her ancestors were," he said.
Mr Salmond was speaking at a photocall outside St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.
He said: "I think Her Majesty the Queen, who has seen so many events in the course of her long reign, will be proud to be Queen of Scots, and indeed we would be proud to have her as monarch of this land."
The first minister said he thought the statement released by Buckingham Palace regarding the Queen's neutrality was "a perfectly satisfactory and perfectly sensible" response to the press rumours about her concern.

Alex Salmond was speaking outside St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh

Under the plans for independence outlined in the Scottish government's white paper, the Queen would remain head of state.
It says: "On independence Scotland will be a constitutional monarchy, continuing the Union of the Crowns that dates back to 1603, pre-dating the Union of the Parliaments by over one hundred years. On independence in 2016, Her Majesty The Queen will be head of state."
Queen's Speech In this year's Queen's Speech at the state opening of the Westminster Parliament in June, Her Majesty said her government would proceed with plans to enhance the financial powers of the Scottish Parliament and would continue to "make the case for Scotland to remain a part of the United Kingdom".
Though the speech is delivered by the Queen, the content is written by the UK government of the day.
However, there is a precedent for the Queen commenting on a major issue that has constitutional implications.
In 1977, on the occasion of her Silver Jubilee, she informed both Houses of Parliament: "I cannot forget that I was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland."
The comments were widely interpreted as a royal rebuff to proposals for devolution to Scotland which foundered in 1979.
An address to the Scottish Parliament in 2002 was seen as a move away from the 1977 position.
Her Majesty warmly praised the relatively new devolved settlement, noting that MSPs were helping, with their work, to "strengthen the bonds that link the nations and regions of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and Europe".

Kenya must take lead in gifting ultimate solution to Somalia

Kenya must take lead in gifting ultimate solution to Somalia

 39  2 Google +0  2


by Makau Mutua
Tuesday, September 09, 2014

There comes a time when you’ve got to save your neighbour from himself. For, if you don’t, you might be damned with him. Methinks it’s time Kenya thought boldly – and compassionately – about the mess that’s Somalia. One of the options – bold and compassionate – of salvaging a seemingly irredeemable and terminally dysfunctional state is to move in and take it up.

Can Somalia be saved as a single state as we know it? Perhaps not. But the bold and compassionate move to save Somalia should be a Kenya-only burden – the contiguous states should jump in and take their own slices. Let’s remember this – there’s nothing “sacred” about post-colonial states that imperialists made up just over a century ago.
Some countries should’ve a claim to statehood.  That’s why they should be combined with other, more viable, states. Somalia falls in that column because it’s shown itself incapable of self-governance. The Federal Government of Somalia – the current attempt by the AU and the West to resurrect “humpty dumpty” – has all the marks of illegitimacy. It can hardly hold any territory in Somalia on its own. Nor does its writ extend beyond several neighbourhoods in Mogadishu. It’s nonsense on stilts. Just because a state was established long ago, doesn’t mean it should continue to exist – especially as a fiction of the imagination.
As a state, Somalia is merely a romantic idea, nothing more. It’s an unworkable, unviable, and destabilising concoction – a total charade.
Already, “Somalia” is hopelessly divided. Its own inhabitants have “disappeared” it as a single state. The Federal Government controls Mogadishu, but then there’s Puntland, Somaliland, and Jubaland. There’s no realistic expectation that all these little enclaves can cohere into one viable state.
Either the international community recognises each of these statelets as sovereign, or it allows neighbouring states to absorb them. States can only exist where the inhabitants exhibit a will to form a political community. Absent such a patriotic commitment, it’s futile for the “international community” to impose statehood on an unwilling populace. It’s an unimaginative solution to a modern paradox. Not all states are, or should be, permanent per se, and nor should they be so treated.
In 1963, the OAU – now the AU – adopted the doctrine of uti possidetis, which is Latin for “as you possess”. It provided that colonial borders were inviolable and had to be treated as “sacred” after decolonisation. It essentially froze in place colonial maps even those that didn’t make sense.
Newly independent African states feared that re-opening colonial borders would undo them.  European cartographers didn’t know what they were doing – they only sought chunks of land to exploit. We were stuck with the silly maps after the Europeans departed. Africans have redrawn some of these crazy maps. Eritrea broke away from Ethiopia. South Sudan forced a divorce from Sudan.This brings me to my central thesis – why Kenya should permanently save Somalia. The most compelling reason is the security and viability of Kenya. Of all the countries in the Horn of Africa, Kenya is imperiled the most by a rogue and ungoverned “Somalia”. Yet Kenya is the unquestioned and indispensable anchor state in the region.
As Kenya goes, so does the rest of the region. Kenya doesn’t face any rival or existential threat from any other source except “Somalia”. That’s because Kenya is Somalia’s economic lifeblood.
There’s a real existential symbiosis between Kenya and Somalia. It’s fact Somalia is a haven for terrorists, extremists, weapons trafficking, and other evils. We leave Somalia alone at our own peril.
Where do Somalis run to when there’s trouble in Somalia? Kenya is the country of refuge. Think of Dadaab Refugee Camp – now the largest refugee camp in the world. It’s also Kenya’s fourth largest city. I don’t see those refugees ever going back to Somalia. Mark my words – they will eventually become Kenyans. And that’s not a bad thing. I know that some xenophobic Kenyans may object – thinking that Somalis would dominate Kenya. But what’s wrong if those Somalis become Kenyans?
It would integrate them into the Kenyan state and give them a stake in Kenya. This strategy would work well if Kenya annexed southern Somalia, including Kismayu. It wouldn’t be a buffer, but a part of Kenya.
But the annexation of Somalia as a strategy for peace in the Horn can only work if Ethiopia and Djibouti – the other states that border Somalia – get into the act. Ethiopia has a large Somali population in the Ogaden region.
That may be the impetus for its annexation of a chunk of neighbouring Somalia. Djibouti would need some help, but demographically may be the most suited to swallow a huge portion of Somalia. Kenya must think radically, otherwise its incursion into Somalia will have been for naught. It will have squandered blood and treasure in a fool’s errand.

Government to ban widespread use of 'spy cars' by councils

COMMENTS (601)

Jump media player

Media player help

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Neil Bowdler reports on the so-called spy cars, which the government is accused of using as a "cash cow"

Continue reading the main story

Related Stories

• Calls to scrap parking camera ban
• Ban threat for car parking cameras

The widespread use of static and car-mounted cameras to catch drivers who park illegally in England is to be banned, the government has announced.

It says so-called "spy cars" have been used as a "cash cow" by councils, and it wants to end the "plague" of parking fines being sent in the post.

Instead traffic wardens will have to fix penalty notices to windscreens.

Councils will still be able to use the cameras near schools, in bus lanes and bus stops, and on "red routes".

Currently, some councils can use CCTV cameras or "approved devices" to enforce parking restrictions, under Labour's 2004 Traffic Management Act.

The government says nine million parking fines are now issued every year by local authorities in England and wants to rein-in "over-zealous parking enforcement practices".

The ban follows a three-month consultation

'Fairer deal'

Announcing the measures, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said the government was taking "urgently needed action to ban this clear abuse of CCTV".

"CCTV spy cars can be seen lurking on every street raking in cash for greedy councils and breaking the rules that clearly state that fines should not be used to generate profit for town halls.

"Over-zealous parking enforcement and unreasonable stealth fines by post undermine the high street, push up the cost of living and cost local authorities more in the long term," he said.

However, the Local Government Association says the cameras stop motorists parking dangerously and protect pedestrians.

Other proposals announced by the government include:

• Trialling a 25% discount of the full price of their parking ticket for motorists who lose an appeal against a parking fine at tribunal
• Giving local residents and firms the right to demand a review of parking in their area
• Reforming parking guidance so it is less "heavy-handed" and to stop "over-aggressive" action by bailiffs
• Maintaining a freeze on fixed penalty notices for the remainder of this parliament

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the measures would deliver a "fairer deal for motorists, ensuring that parking enforcement is proportionate, that school children are protected and buses can move freely, and that key routes are kept clear".

Palmira Silva, 82, 'beheaded' in London garden

Jump media player

Media player help

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

The BBC's Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw said it was unknown whether the victim and the suspect were known to each other

An 82-year-old woman has been killed in a suspected beheading in the garden of a north London house.

Palmira Silva was found behind the house in Nightingale Road, Edmonton, at about 13:00 BST, police said.

Police do not know whether Palmira Silva knew her attacker

Officers found her collapsed in the back garden and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and is in custody. Detectives said there was no suggestion the killing had a terrorist motive.

The man is in hospital being treated for injuries suffered when he was arrested, police said.

A Taser was used during the arrest and a firearms officer is believed to have suffered a broken wrist.

Police said they were initially called to reports of a man armed with a knife and eyewitnesses said he had attacked an animal, possibly a cat or a dog.

Speaking at the scene of the attack, Cdr Simon Letchford said police had distracted the man while they evacuated nearby houses.

"Officers had to do everything they could to make other people safe and evacuate houses and put their lives on the line to make sure this individual did not cause further harm," he said.

He said officers smashed windows to get people out of properties after the man was "cornered" in a house.

Detectives investigating Ms Silva's death are also looking into an earlier attempted attack on two people in another address in Nightingale Road. Officers said the pair were not thought to have been hurt in the incident.

Police said they had traced the victim's next of kin but were unwilling to speculate on the nature of her injuries or the type of weapon used.

Police said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the killing

Residents were evacuated from the area and the street has been cordoned off, police said

Police said forensic officers would be at the scene for hours to come

Det Ch Insp John Sandlin said: "I can understand why this may cause people concern, however we are confident that we are not looking for anyone else at this stage.

"Whilst it is too early to speculate on what the motive behind this attack was I am confident, based on the information currently available to me, that it is not terrorist related."

Jump media player

Media player help

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Commander Simon Letchford: "These sort of events are very unusual"

Neighbour Muhammed Yusuf said police knocked on his door and told him to leave the property immediately.

His son Ahmed, 19, said: "At first there were two police cars, then all of a sudden there were 20.

"The police said to drop everything. I said 'What's going on?' and they said there's a guy jumping over gardens."

Another resident Freda Odame, 30, saw a screaming man waving a weapon around.

She said: "I heard shouting and banging and I opened my curtains and saw a guy holding a knife in a back garden a few doors along."

The BBC's Home Affairs Correspondent Danny Shaw said it was currently unknown whether the victim and the suspect were known to each other.

The police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, has been informed of the incident.

IS threat: Still time to build a strategy - PJ Crowley

Previous

• Latest
• Crisis point
• Nato and Russia
• Viewpoint: Do not rush IS response
• How we got here
• Ukraine maps
• Nato, in 80 seconds

Next

By PJ CrowleyFormer US Assistant Secretary of State

US Navy jets land on a US aircraft carrier after striking IS targets in Iraq

Continue reading the main story

Syria conflict

• 'No-one cares'
• 'Till the last drop of blood'
• Suffering in west Aleppo
• Defiant rebels

American presidents are usually heavily scripted in public and blunt in private.

So, when US President Barack Obama stated flatly "We don't have a strategy yet for Isis," it raised eyebrows and more than a few hackles.

Whether or not it was wise to be so candid, his intent was to tamp down the conjecture that the United States was poised to expand military action against Islamic State (IS), often still known by its former name Isis, beyond Iraq into Syria as well.

While the horrific beheadings of James Foley and Steven Sotloff have helped clarify what is at stake in Syria, President Obama is right not to rush after Isis into Syria.

For one thing, that may be just what IS wants him to do.

Jump media player

Media player help

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Steven Sotloff had a passion for the Middle East and a taste for adventure, as the BBC's Frank Gardner reports

James Foley had been missing since he was seized in Syria in 2012

Iraqi Shia militiamen with an IS flag captured as they broke a siege in the northern town of Amerli

In the Sotloff tape, the narrator again calls on Obama to "back off and leave our people alone."

However, as they work to supplant al-Qaeda as the driving force behind the creation of a new caliphate (they are not likely to be any more successful than their rivals were), they seem to relish the re-ignition of the perceived war between Islam and the West.

An American incursion into Syria without clear regional support would be a potential recruiting bonanza just as the US invasion of Iraq was in 2003.

The United States has gradually intensified the pressure on IS in Iraq.

With the help of US air strikes, Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish peshmerga have regained some lost territory, including the Mosul dam, a development IS specifically highlighted in the Sotloff recording.

IS still displays significant staying power, and its ability to hold and govern large sections of Iraq and Syria is why US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel suggested the group "is beyond just a terrorist group."

While military action has been effective in Iraq, the next crucial step is political, whether the new government (which is still being formed) can reverse the mistakes of the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki or not, govern more effectively and inclusively, as well as unite the country in opposition to IS.

There are ways to achieve this — the devolution of meaningful responsibility to Iraq's provinces will certainly help — but this is for the Iraqis themselves to resolve.

The US has said its deployment of air power in support of the Kurdish forces will be limited

Creating regional consensus

The Syrian dimension is far more complex.

In saying there is not yet a strategy for IS, President Obama was actually admitting he lacks a viable and sustainable strategy for Syria, something that has been apparent for three years.

To be sure, the president has had his share of mistakes and miscalculations.

He was right to call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, but underestimated his survival skills and the lengths to which other countries would go, especially Russia, to protect him.

He was right to side with the moderate opposition, but did not provide them enough support when it really mattered.

A year ago, he was right to call for decisive military action in response to Syria's use of chemical weapons, but his failure to pull the trigger enabled President Assad to regain the upper hand and undermined the credibility of US policy and power in the region.

IS in Iraq and Syria

The emergence of IS is a serious problem, but hardly the only one and not necessarily the most consequential.

It is important to continue to view Syria through a wider lens.

It is true there is no solution to IS without meaningful action not just in Iraq, but also in Syria.

It is also true that a solution to IS requires a solution for Syria, which means addressing the malign roles played by Assad, as well as those played by Iran and Russia.

Assad is a central factor in the rise of IS. He is part of the problem, not of any solution.

Russia and Iran are problems, but also see IS as one. Ideally, they could be part of a solution.

The United States also needs to deal with the conflicting agendas of other players in the region, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

It will take time to create a regional consensus on Syria. Without it, no strategy made in Washington is likely to succeed.

Stomach for action

The Sotloff tape does not change our understanding of the group. If anything, it should reinforce it.

IS poses a threat to the West, particularly its ability to attract Westerners to the conflict.

President Barack Obama wants Iraq and other countries to fight extremism inside their own borders

There is no reason to believe at this point that it has the ability or the interest to attack the United States or European countries directly.

That may change over time, but while there is an urgency to all of this, there is still time to develop an appropriate strategy and gain allies to help carry it out.

President Obama may get some welcome support from Congress as well.

In the next few weeks, it may provide specific authorisation for the United States to undertake military operations inside Syria, something it was unwilling to do a year ago.

Air strikes in Syria may well be part of the answer.

Ultimately, taking that step is not a question of stomach, but of strategy.

PJ Crowley is now a professor of practice and fellow at the George Washington University Institute of Public Diplomacy & Global Communication.

Again Somalia relapses into hostilities and despair

September 5, 2014

In addition to ongoing war against terrorist group Al Shabab, looming famine that would affect million people, and intense polarization engendered by the compulsory clan federalism, Somalia suffers many other ills. For background, I hypothesized in my article of June 2014 on the demotion of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud by the International Troika administering Somalia- Envoys of IGAD, UN, and EU- after members of Somali parliament called for his immediate resignation that the ensuing political survival strategy of the President will ruin the future of Somalia. Now there are growing signs that the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) has lost the interest, will, and chance to secure ownership and leadership legitimacy as well as building institutions to effectively represent and defend the best interests of the Somali people, which are the necessary premises for getting national and international trust, respect, and support. The Foreign Minister of Somalia H. E. Dr. Abdirahman Duale Bayleh composed new song broadcasted by Universal TV on August 30, 2014, in which he bluntly defined Somalia as a project and its leader as “Mooge” (Somali word) translated into “absent-minded, ignorant, or confused.”

One of the many ills is the wrong customary approach of the federal government to act when addressing national problems without undertaking the constitutionally required policy development process to produce solutions and consensus translated into laws, regulations, and policy guidelines. Policy Development process is a critical mechanism for institutional building and governance to achieve defined goals and to evaluate performances of government institutions for accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness. Acting without policy development process would lead to failure and self-destruction which perpetuates the national tragedy.

It’s hard to find publications of official documents explaining and legitimizing the domestic and foreign activities of the federal government for public understanding, scrutiny, and transparency. Non-stop travels to abroad, pictures, seminars, and general speeches became its common means for citizens’ engagement and claims for accomplishment. The Federal Government circumvents to seek, honor, and encourage policy development process through genuine public participation and democratic parliamentary process for input, support, and approval.

There are many unexplained events that worried the public. For example, on 9 August 2014, the international troika on Somalia signed a letter in support of Puntland President Abdiweli Gas for his objection against the merger of Mudug and Galgudud regions for the formation of new federal member state. The letter, which divides the region of Mudug, unequivocally repeals articles of the Provisional Constitution and revokes the representation and leadership legitimacy of the FGS. It is prejudicial to the legitimacy and viability of the new federal member state. It undermines direct dialogue among Somalis for reconciliation, cohesion, and compromise. The final message of the letter is pep talk to the leaders of the federal government after being implicitly depicted as not quite honest partners. The FGS remains silent on this foreign interposition.

Well-armed secret service forces raided media properties, houses of members of parliament, politicians, and former government officials. There are accusations of human rights violations, suppression of freedom of expression, damaged or taken properties, and citizens tortured in detention. Despite parliamentary, public, and victims’ outcry for explanation and redress for the death, injury, and arrest of innocent civilians and arbitrary disarmament, the federal government first ignored and later issued threats for additional actions. Abuse of power feeds anarchy and hostility.

It is inconceivable that the leaders of the federal government shielded from the Somali security forces by foreign forces had the sense to deprive vulnerable private citizens and former government officials of the ability to defend themselves from Al Shabab and other personal threats. The fight against Al Shabab transmuted into persecution against suspected rivals of the federal government for harassment and intimidation. Government motivation has alarmed local leaders who expressed their complaint in public.

Additionally, clan federalism reinforces the need for clan armed forces. There are institutionalized clan forces in different regions. Therefore, arms in the hands of community members play the role of deterrence and tenuous but peaceful coexistence until the national government acquires the monopoly of use of force in Somalia.

Somalia, a failed state, needs disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation (DDR) program. But, in the absence of public confidence in federal government’s commitment to responsible politics and to the rule of law, the need to keep arms for self-defense has become a necessity. The FGS shoulders the responsibility for breeding public discontent, confusion, suspicion, and misgivings.

Contrary to the public denials of President Hassan on scheme to cede large section of Somalia’s territorial water to Kenya, the federal government submitted a petition on maritime border dispute with Kenya to the International Court of Justice. The content of the petition and other published documents confirm 100% the contentions of concerned Somalis who have been protesting about the Somali government’s corrupt, unwise, and irresponsible role in the conspiracy against Somali territorial water since the signing of 2009 Memorandum of Understanding in Nairobi between Kenya and Somalia, later annulled by the Somali parliament.

Given the facts in hand, the action of federal government seems reckless and deceptive because the federal government lacks “substantial or dominant sovereignty,” manifested in independent security, political and diplomatic power, as well as institutional capacity, discipline, and integrity, all critical to vigorously and confidently defend national interests at the international arena. The experience shows that the litigation of disputes covered by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLS) and other international laws is complex and insurmountable for countries like fragile Somalia. The three step process described in the petition is kind of “the devil is in the detail.” Kenya has high probability to get legitimization for what it took by force because abominably the principal culprits of this historical crime are in powerful positions to ensure the legitimization of their crime. Somali activists were right in their concern and contention and surely they will intensify their efforts to defend their annexed territory.   

Many powerful countries did not sign the UNCLS. The federal government overlooked the opportunity to get relief of deferment and exoneration from any international litigation, claims, or datelines until Somalia exits from United Nations Security Council (UNSC) seizure and becomes credibly ready to defend its interests and fulfill its international obligations. As it is known, from 1991, Somalia as a failed (fragile, collapsed) state has been seized by the UNSC and Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remains under UNSC protection. The UNSC has authorized and supports the intervention of African Union forces from Kenya and other countries in Somalia to protect the federal government from Al Shabab attacks. In addition, UNSC sanctioned the multinational forces guarding the Somali coastline from piracy and other illegal activities. Somalia is under force majeure clause.

After the leaders of the federal government failed to rein in the unbridled judicial system that assumed judicial, political, legislative, and executive powers, Human Right Watch report of August 26 criticized the jurisdiction and quality of justice of federal government’s military court and called for suspension of the ongoing summary executions and court trials that violate the fundamental principles of justices. The misuse of judicial power did not only violate the Provisional Constitution, but it also subverted the fundamental aim of the Somali Compact, a partnership agreement between the federal government and the International community to rebuild the Somali State. The aim in the Somali Compact is “to restore the Somali people’s trust in the State and its ability to protect and serve their basic needs for inclusive, politics, security, justice, an economic foundation and revenue and services in full respect of human rights.” It is unfortunate that Somali leaders needed to be reminded about the fundamental rights of each citizen as detailed under articles 10 to 41 of the provisional constitution. In addition, the duties of the each citizen include patriotism and loyalty to the country, fostering national unity, knowledge, upholding, and defense of the constitution, defense of the territory of the FGS, promotion of accountability and rule of law, becoming a good taxpayer.

Rebuilding the Somali political system requires that the leaders of the federal government are conscious of the past history and the legacy of the civil war, and respect the provisions of the constitution and address the chaotic political disputes and social tensions in the society through a democratic process that can adequately reconcile the peculiarities and incongruities of domestic demands. The Federal Government needs to embrace the practice of rigorous policy development process and participatory system for transparency and accountability for the best interests of Somalia. The democratic aspirations of Somalis are effective participation in negotiations and decision making processes that ensure equality, fairness in resource and power distribution, and overall sense of justice, trust, and hope.

Mr. Mohamud Uluso

mohamuduluso@gmail.com

Libya militias 'seize ministries' as al-Thinni reappointed

Jump media player

Media player help

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

The US embassy is under militia control

Continue reading the main story

Libya after Gaddafi

• Libya dragged into wider battle
• Will militias defeat democracy?
• Rogue general divides Libyans
• Why is Libya lawless?

Libya's militias have captured most government ministries in the capital, Tripoli, the government has said.

Armed men had blocked staff from entering offices, it added in a statement.

On Sunday, militiamen seized the US embassy, with videos showing cheering men diving from a balcony into a swimming pool.

Meanwhile, Abdullah al-Thinni has been reappointed as prime minister after he resigned last week.

Libya has been hit by anarchy since Col Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown by the militias, backed by Western countries, in 2011.

The militias have been fighting for power among themselves since then, with an Islamist-linked group, Libya Dawn, capturing Tripoli last week.

Islamist-linked fighters have defeated their rivals in the battle for the capital

Senior government officials and the elected parliament moved to the eastern city of Tobruk, more than 1,000km (620 miles) away, last month for security reasons.

"We announce that most ministries, institutions and state bodies in the capital Tripoli are out of our control," the government statement said.

The US and other countries evacuated their embassy staff in July, as fighting escalated for control of Tripoli.

Libya's central bank and the state oil company are based in the city.

The House of Representatives, elected in July, said it had reappointed Mr Thinni, who would now form a new, streamlined government.

The elections were the second since Col Gaddafi was killed in the 2011 revolution, but hopes that the polls would help restore stability in Libya have failed to materialise.

Libyan Dawn has called on the previous parliament, the General National Congress, to reconvene but the UN has said it will only back the elected body.

Battle for Libya:

Misrata-led alliance (Libya Dawn):

• Effectively in control of Tripoli
• Includes some Islamist militias, such as LROR
• Also Libya Central Shield
• Called on former parliament, GNC, to reconvene

Zintan-led alliance:

• Had controlled Tripoli airport for three years
• Includes al-Qaqa Brigade and al-Sawaiq Brigade
• Al-Qaqa had officially joined the national army but remained autonomous
• Supports new parliament
• Loosely allied with rogue General Haftar

Why is Libya lawless?

Guide to Libya's militias

The airport in Tripoli has been closed since July because of heavy fighting