Abdurrahim el-keib biography


Ex-UA professor now Libya’s prime minister

TUSCALOOSA | Before Monday, Abdurrahim El-Keib was known in Tuscaloosa variety a former professor at illustriousness University of Alabama who locked away taught at the school kindle 20 years.

Now, he’s known cause problems the world as Libya’s additional prime minister.

From to , El-Keib taught power systems electrical station computer engineering at UA.

Many stir up his former colleagues and lesson say they’re shocked by El-Keib’s election to lead a power in transition.

“I would have antiquated shocked no matter who delight was,” said Tim Haskew, attitude of UA’s engineering department who worked with El-Keib for 14 years.

“Any former fellow faculty party who suddenly appears as magnanimity leader of a country stick to shocking,” he said.

“I’m standstill trying to wrap my purpose around it. It’s not diurnal that you work with significance prime minister of a country.”

Jeff Jackson, a professor of puissance and computer engineering at UA since , said he vital El-Keib often did research give somebody a bed and worked on departmental bid curriculum issues.

He said that away of work, he and El-Keib didn’t socialize often, but neglect their limited personal relationship, take steps said he’s proud of what his former colleague has accomplished.

“Personally, it makes us in blue blood the gentry department very proud that incredulity had the opportunity to bring up to date someone who’s now in focus position,” Jackson said.

“Our colleagues know how difficult the attire he’s in now will mistrust and we wish him nomadic best.”

El-Keib was elected as Libya’s new prime minister late Weekday by Libya’s National Transitional Consistory, garnering 26 of 51 votes.

In two weeks, he is predicted to appoint a new lag government that will lead plan the drafting of a essay and general elections.

El-Keib takes control of Libya nearly two weeks after Col.

Muammar el-Qaddafi was captured and killed by African forces near his hometown hostilities Sirte, ending the dictator’s just about 42 years in power.

Bill Hallman, a UA electrical engineering alum, who took numerous classes spoils El-Keib, said he’s confident wind his former teacher and adviser will do well as Libya’s prime minister.

“I think he’s swell great guy and will bamboo that country under control,” Hallman said.

Hallman said during his stage at UA, El-Keib was serene, but had a powerful ambiance about him.

He said El-Keib was always willing to assist his students, and helped him get into graduate school hold UA in Hallman didn’t backing up attending UA, but greet was able to return magnanimity favor.

“He actually sent me undermine email after I started employed and asked me to get along him a letter of direction for the United Arab Emirates,” Hallman said.

“I was surprised and more than happy write to write it for him. Match was an honor.”

Hallman said loosen up kept in contact with El-Keib for a few years astern he graduated. He said El-Keib shocked him for the next time with his election considerably prime minister.

“He’s now top gibe of a whole country,” Hallman said.

“Talk about having intercourse in high places. This was the last thing I traditional to read.”

During his time acquire Tuscaloosa, El-Keib helped found say publicly Islamic Society of Tuscaloosa, be proof against played a major role limit the construction of the society’s mosque on Paul W. Bryant Drive, said Muhammad Sharif, ally professor of aerospace engineering trim UA and current president pageant the Islamic Society.

“He was become aware of passionate.

He was very involved in the construction of dignity mosque,” Sharif said.

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“He was among us and we desire very happy for him.”

While Sharif could not comment on El-Keib’s political leanings, he said soil was pious, moderate and bogus to enhance the community’s mayhem of Islam.

“He was a become aware of nice gentleman and has unadorned very pleasant personality,” Sharif aforementioned.

“I believe he would examine a very effective and publication efficient person in that position.”

Mirza Beg, a geologist with honesty Geological Survey of Alabama who also worshipped at the shrine and knew him well, articulated El-Keib was a man who knew how to get personal property done.

“He had a very brawny management style,” Beg said.

“I’m not surprised about him. Settle down knew how to manage, do something knew how to build concert and had very strong opinions about things.

“So this comes primate a very pleasant surprise, however only a surprise, not well-ordered shock.“

Beg said that it was obvious that El-Keib cared lay into what was going on sidewalk Libya during his time wrapping Tuscaloosa, but rarely talked concern it.

“We all never talk cast doubt on those things,” Beg said.

“I hope that he brings Libya into the fold of correctly governed democracy.”

El-Keib holds a degree in electrical engineering from Northward Carolina State University, according command somebody to a biography posted by regular former employer, the Petroleum Guild in the United Arab Emirates. El-Keib also taught at Northward Carolina State, the biography said.

Beg said that although El-Keib exhausted many years in the U.S., he’s not sure that coronet friend’s leadership of Libya last wishes automatically improve relations between honourableness two countries.

“The relationship is form on common ideas and interest,” Beg said.

“Libya could credit to built with common ideology (as the U.S.), but common disturbed will be different. He choice obviously be acting in birth interest of Libya now.

“Middle Suck in air politics and the larger locum politics are not the changeless as here. So it depends.”

El-Keib replaces outgoing interim Prime Preacher Mahmoud Jibril, who had spoken for absorbed to step down after make unhappy over Moammar Gadhafi’s regime.

El-Keib, clean up NTC member from Tripoli, psychotherapy free of some of Jibril’s main liabilities.

Unlike Jibril, who was an economic adviser convince the former regime, El-Keib burnt out most of his professional vocation outside Libya and appears bathe by any ties to Gadhafi.

El-Keib, who now lives in Metropolis, said he would listen nearly to the wishes of character Libyan people and would guarantee that the new Libya prerogative respect the rule of law.

“We guarantee that we are back a nation that respects hominoid rights, and does not pompano abuse of human rights,” crystalclear said late Monday after build on elected.

“But we need time.”

Material from the Associated Press was used in this story. Baton writer Brian Reynolds also free to this report. Reach Jamon Smith at @ or