This came in response to the killing of the rebel military chief Abdel Fattah Younes last month, said a spokesman.

Some among the rebels have blamed an allied Islamist faction for his death. Abdel-Hafiz Ghoga told al-Jazeera there had been "shortcomings" in the way some members of the National Transitional Council had handled the matter.

The Associated Press quoted NTC member Fathi Turbel as saying it was clear the re-shuffle was needed after the "military, security and media incompetence" in the wake of Gen Younes' death.

Spokesman Shamsiddin Abdulmolah told Reuters the re-shuffle was a sign of "the maturing of the revolution, holding people responsible".

Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril has now been asked to form a new cabinet. Council members said some of the ministers could be re-appointed.

Gen Younes had defected to the rebels in February after serving in the Libyan leadership since the 1969 coup which brought Col Muammar Gaddafi to power.

His burnt body - along with two of his aides - was found on the outskirts of Benghazi on 28 July, after he had been recalled to give evidence on the ongoing conflict against Col Gaddafi.