Former Radio Netherlands Worldwide journalist Tareq Alqzeeri has been appointed director of Libyan television channel Libya Alahrar.

The news and current affairs channel was created shortly after the start of the Libyan revolution to act as a counterweight to former dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s state television.

Mr Alqzeeri, who worked for RNW’s Arabic desk, was one of the founders of the opposition channel. The owner Mahmud Shammam, who is also Media Minister on the National Transitional Council, has asked him to transform the rebel channel into a fully-fledged news channel to replace Libyan state television at some point in the future.

(gsh/imm)

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