TRIPOLI – February 10 (ONLINE): Gunmen have attacked Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah’s convoy in the capital, Tripoli, international news agency reported, citing sources.
The attack took place early on Thursday as the interim leader was returning home, the news agency said.
One of the bullets penetrated the windscreen of the prime minister’s car, but he and his driver escaped unhurt.
Media reports said the bullets were fired from a light weapon, probably a Kalashnikov.
They said Libya’s chief prosecutor has launched an investigation into the attack.
The Reuters news agency also reported on the incident, saying that one source close to the prime minister had called it an assassination attempt.
Libya has had little peace or stability since the NATO-backed uprising against former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country in 2014 split between warring factions in the east and the west.
Dbeibah, a powerful businessman from the city of Misrata, was installed as head of the United Nations-backed Government of National Unity (GNU) in March, and was tasked with leading the country to elections on December 24.
He was given the caretaker role on the condition that he not contest the election, but he declared himself a candidate in November in a move others called unfair.
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