The eastern region’s military commander and Chief of Staff of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives’ forces, Abdelraziq Al-Nathori, froze the duties of Benghazi municipality and appointed Colonel Ahmed Araibi as its mayor starting Thursday.

The spokeswoman of the Al-Thanni government’s Local Governing Ministry, Entisar Mohammed, said Al-Nathori did so as per his authorities as a commander of the east after a meeting he held with Local Governing Minister, Mohammed Al-Farouk at the military commander’s headquarters in Al-Marij.

Some might think the decision goes at odds with local administration law no.56 for 2012, but appointing a military commander is like announcing state of emergency, which justifies stopping some laws till security and stability prevail, especially in Benghazi, where war is ongoing, Entisar Mohammed indicated.

The Speaker of the HoR, Aqilah Saleh, appointed Al-Nathori last June as commander of the eastern districts from Derna to Benjawad.

Al-Nathori made some controversial decisions that some saw as paving the way for the return of the military reign.