Dubliner elected mayor of Tripoli

A Dubliner who helped overthrow Libyan dictator Colonel Gadaffi has been elected Mayor of the country's capital Tripoli.

Mahdi al-Harati, 41, is an Irish citizen who lived in Firhouse near Tallaght for over 20 years and married an Irish woman. He led a rebel group during the Libyan uprising and another in Syria.

Al-Harati also appeared on the Late Late Show on RTE in 2011.

Al-Harati's brother-in-law Housam 'Sam' al-Najjar - also from Dublin - told The Herald last night that he has the support of "mainstream Libyans" and his family is delighted with the news.