Libya: PM Abdul Hamid Al Dbeibah survives assassination attempt unharmed

Tripoli: Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Al Dbeibah escaped unharmed when shots hit his car early on Thursday, a source close to him said, calling it a clear assassination attempt, amid intense factional wrangling over control of the government.

The source, who sought anonymity, said Al Dbeibah had been returning home when shots were fired from another vehicle that fled, and the incident had been referred to the prosecutor general for investigation.

Such an attempt, if confirmed, would aggravate the crisis over control of Libya, where Al Dbeibah has said he will ignore a vote scheduled by the eastern-based parliament later on Thursday to replace him.

Al Dbeibah was installed in March as head of the UN-backed Government of National Unity (GNU) that was meant to oversee the run-up to an election in December.

Rival factions have been jostling for position after the election process fell apart amid disputes over the rules, such as the legitimacy of Al Dbeibah’s own candidacy for president after he pledged not to run.

The parliament, which mostly backed eastern forces during the civil war, has declared the GNU invalid and will hold a vote on Thursday to name a new prime minister to form another government.

However, the UN’s Libya adviser and Western countries have said they continue to recognise the GNU and have urged Libyan political institutions to instead focus on holding elections.

The parliament said this week that no elections would be held this year.