Libya PM says he's willing to give up power

TRIPOLI, Libya, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said he is willing to step aside but warned a caretaker government could create a power vacuum in the volatile country.

Zeidan, whose government has faced popular criticism for corruption and inefficiency after the conflict that brought down former dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, said he would be willing to relinquish power but only if a successor were named, the Libya Herald reported Monday.

Zeidan said a caretaker government put in place if he were to leave would be, by definition, less effective than his own administration. That could create a dangerous power vacuum for extremists to gain further control in the country, he said.