Libyan PM defiant despite siege on foreign ministry
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 29 April 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Libyan PM defiant despite siege on foreign ministry, 29 April 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/519a6bad3b.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
April 29, 2013
The prime minister of Libya says his government is "very strong and determined" after gunmen surrounded the country's Foreign Ministry on April 28, calling for a ban on officials who worked for former dictator Muammar Qaddafi.
Reports said at least 20 pickup trucks loaded with antiaircraft guns blocked roads while armed men directed traffic away from the ministry building in Tripoli.
Armed groups also tried but failed to storm the Interior Ministry and the state news agency.
Prime Minister Ali Zaidan said such attacks will not deter the government.
The siege was aimed at pressing a demand for a law – which has already been proposed – banning Qaddafi-era officials from senior government positions.
The protest came just days after the French Embassy in Tripoli was bombed, raising fresh concerns about security in the Libyan capital.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
