Abdel Rahim al-Keib, the man elected Monday to lead the task of rebuilding Libya after eight months of conflict, is a little known technocrat who won the support of the country's revolutionary council.

An academic and a wealthy businessman, Keib spent decades abroad as an opponent of Moamer Kadhafi, before quickly joining the pro-democracy revolution that erupted in February and finally triumphed on October 20.

His experience as a technocrat, his generous financial support for the National Transitional Council and the presentation he delivered to voting NTC members earlier Monday culminated in his election.

"The main aspects of his programme were the stability of the country, of course, the security file and the military file, which will be under the control... of the interior ministry," said Fathi Baja, the NTC's head of political affairs.

"He also promised to provide for the basic needs of the Libyan people."

Keib won 26 out of 51 votes to become Libya's new prime minister, seeing off four rival candidates, notably interim oil minister Ali Tarhuni and Idriss Abu Fayed, a Kadhafi opponent who was jailed by the former regime.

Born in Tripoli in 1950, Keib belongs to a prestigious family from Sabratha, a coastal town 70 kilometres (45 miles) west of the capital.