Libya’s transitional government announced overnight it had lost
control of the majority of ministries in Tripoli, a day after a Libyan
militia took over an abandoned annex of the U.S. Embassy in the Libyan
capital.
In a statement, the government said armed forces had surrounded the government headquarters, preventing workers from entering and threatening to kill ministers and their deputies.
It also said gunmen had directly threatened a great number of state employees, attacked them and burned down their houses.
The government, which along with the newly elected parliament relocated to the remote eastern city of Tobruk, said it is now conducting duties outside the capital.
Separately, Libya's elected parliament, the House of Representatives, on Monday asked Abdullah al-Thinni to form new government, a lawmaker said.
Thinni had been prime minister of the oil producer since March but his position has been challenged by a rival parliament refusing the recognize the House of Representatives.
Libya has been rocked by the worst factional violence since the 2011 fall of Moammar Qaddafi, and a Misrata-led alliance, part of it which is Islamist-leaning, now controls the capital.
On Sunday, an Islamist-allied militia took over an abandoned annex of the American Embassy in Tripoli. The militia, however, did not break into the main compound.
A commander for the “Dawn of Libya” militia told the Associated Press on Monday was guarding the U.S. Embassy and its residential compound.
(With Reuters, AP)
In a statement, the government said armed forces had surrounded the government headquarters, preventing workers from entering and threatening to kill ministers and their deputies.
It also said gunmen had directly threatened a great number of state employees, attacked them and burned down their houses.
The government, which along with the newly elected parliament relocated to the remote eastern city of Tobruk, said it is now conducting duties outside the capital.
Separately, Libya's elected parliament, the House of Representatives, on Monday asked Abdullah al-Thinni to form new government, a lawmaker said.
Thinni had been prime minister of the oil producer since March but his position has been challenged by a rival parliament refusing the recognize the House of Representatives.
Libya has been rocked by the worst factional violence since the 2011 fall of Moammar Qaddafi, and a Misrata-led alliance, part of it which is Islamist-leaning, now controls the capital.
On Sunday, an Islamist-allied militia took over an abandoned annex of the American Embassy in Tripoli. The militia, however, did not break into the main compound.
A commander for the “Dawn of Libya” militia told the Associated Press on Monday was guarding the U.S. Embassy and its residential compound.
- The agency quoted a U.S. State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity as saying the department is seeking additional information but believed the embassy compound “remains secure.”
(With Reuters, AP)
Last Update: Monday, 1 September 2014 KSA 14:34 - GMT 11:34
Al Arabiya News
--
-
Related:
Libyan Militia Takes Control of Vacant US Embassy Annex in Tripoli
UAE 'behind air strikes in Libya': (United Arab Emirates carried out air raids against militias using bases in Egypt.)
Moscow Blames Political Chaos in Libya on Forceful Democratization by US, NATO / Press-conference of Sergey Lavrov (video)
Obama under fire over foreign policy (urging him to do more to help Ukraine resist Russian advances)
Libyan parliament reappoints PM as government loses grip on ministries...
ReplyDelete(Reuters) - Libya's parliament reappointed Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni on Monday as the government lost control of ministries in the capital where armed groups have taken over and a separate parliament has claimed legitimacy.
In another sign of the oil producer sliding deeper into anarchy, Islamist militants launched a new attempt to seize Benghazi's civilian and military airport from army forces allied to a renegade general. At least 13 soldiers from Haftar's forces were killed and 45 wounded, medics said................http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/01/us-libya-security-parliment-idUSKBN0GW23920140901?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
1/9/14