Libyan Prime Minister Survives Assassination Attempt: Report
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Libya’s Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah reportedly survived an assassination attempt in the capital, Tripoli, amid an ongoing tussle for power in the North African country.
The alleged incident comes amid intense wrangling for control of the country between its eastern parliament and Dbeibah's Government of National Unity (GNU).
A source was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying it happened as Dbeibah was on his way home and described it as a clear assassination attempt.
The attackers were said to have fled and the incident was referred for investigation.
Any confirmed attempt to assassinate Dbeibah could aggravate Libya's political crisis. The prime minister said he would ignore a vote scheduled by the eastern parliament later on Thursday to replace him.
The Thursday incident took place hours before a parliament session that is due to consider choosing a new prime minister, an idea rejected by Dbeibah, who confirmed that he will hand over power only to an elected government and will not allow a new transitional phase in Libya.
Armed forces have mobilized more fighters and equipment in the capital over recent weeks, raising fears the political crisis could trigger fighting.
Libya has been grappling with violence since the overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Dbeibah was selected through a UN-facilitated process last February. He was due to serve in his post until elections that were planned on December 24 last year. However, the parliament announced on December 22 that the planned presidential election would not go ahead. It did not set a new date for the election.
The postponement of the long-awaited election has now left an internationally-backed peace process in chaos and the fate of the interim government in doubt.
After the postponement of the vote, there was also a reported surge in violence in the country, including by armed groups seeking to control the country’s oil fields.
Earlier this week, the parliament said that no elections would be held this year, dismaying the many Libyans who had registered to vote. The parliament has also declared the Dbeibah government invalid and said it will hold a vote later in the day to name a new prime minister to form another government.
The parliament's move to choose a new prime minister may lead to a return to the situation before Dbeibah's unity government was installed, with parallel administrations seeking to rule Libya from different cities.