Libya swears in defense minister

TRIPOLI, Libya -- Libya's new defense minister, sworn in yesterday before the country's new leaders and other cabinet ministers, said one of his top priorities is to rebuild the country's military.

Osama al-Juwali said the primary obstacle he faces is unifying the various revolutionary factions that helped topple Moammar Gadhafi's regime in an eight-month civil war. "We have to reorganize," he said, adding that it was too early to disarm fighters still in the capital, Tripoli.

Al-Juwali was commander of revolutionary forces from the western mountain town of Zintan. His fighters helped storm Tripoli in August and then capture Gadhafi's son, Seif al-Islam, last month. -- AP