Zidan, a human rights lawyer who resigned from the General National Congress to run, secured 93 votes on Sunday compared with minister for local government Mohammed Al-Harari, who won only 85.

A diplomat under late leader Moammar Gadhafi, Zidan defected in the 1980s and joined Libya's oldest opposition movement, the National Front for the Salvation of Libya, in Geneva.

"Ali Zidan is elected prime minister and is asked to propose a cabinet within two weeks," said president of the assembly Mohammed Megaryef.

Zidan lost the previous prime minister race to Abushagur, who was unable to satisfy legislators with his choice of people for cabinet posts. The former prime minister complained that the two largest political blocs turned against him after he refused to cave to their demands for extra ministries.

Local Government Minister Mohammed Al-Harari, an academic supported by the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Justice and Construction Party, came in second place with 85 votes.

Zidan will be asked to propose a cabinet within two weeks.

mkg/rc (AP, AFP, dpa)