News / North Africa

Libya's prime minister escapes assignation attempt

Tuesday, 26 May 2015 8:05 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 27 May 2015 1:23 AM ]

Libya's Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani (AFP)

Libya's Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani has survived an assassination attempt on his life, the spokesman for his internationally-recognized government says.

"The prime minister's car was hit by bullets when armed men opened fire as it was leaving an area where a session of parliament was held" in the northeastern city of Tobruk, AFP quoted Hatem el-Ouraybi as saying on Tuesday.

"It was an assassination attempt, and the prime minister survived it," he said, adding that one of Thani’s security team members was also injured.

Ouraybi did not provide any information on the attackers’ identity.

The incident followed a meeting of the country’s internationally-recognized parliament in Tobruk.

According to lawmaker Faraj Abu Hashem, the assailants initially tried to enter the building but were stopped by security forces.

"Members of the government and the prime minister left immediately as gunmen tried to storm the parliament..., but forces prevented them from entering,” he said.

Libya has two rival governments battling for control of the country, with one faction controlling Tripoli, and the other, the country’s internationally-recognized government, governing the cities of Tobruk and Bayda.

Libya’s government and elected parliament relocated to Tobruk after an armed group based in the northwestern city of Misrata seized Tripoli and most government institutions in August 2014.

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