Libyan Former Officials, Militias Attempt Coup in Tripoli

A group of former members of Libya's GNC declared themselves in power after taking over the premises previously held by the congress in the country's capital, local media reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — A group of former members of Libya's General National Congress (GNC), accompanied by local militias, declared themselves in power after taking over the premises previously held by the congress in the country's capital, local media reported.

The Libya Herald newspaper reported on Friday that Khalifa Ghwell, who was the head of one of the country's governments that emerged after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, supported by several members of the GNC seized key state buildings and a TV station in Tripoli.

The newspaper added that Ghwell along with his supporters called on other powers in the country to join him and to create a national unity government.

The former member of the GNC also accused the Presidency Council, which was expected to meet soon in Tunis, of negative impact on the national unity and said that all the officials appointed by the Presidential Council were dismissed, the media outlet added.

Reportedly, the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) has ordered to arrest those behind the coup attempt.

Libya has been in a state of turmoil since 2011, when a civil war began in the country and Gaddafi was overthrown. In December, Libya’s rival governments — the Council of Deputies based in Tobruk and the Tripoli-based General National Congress — agreed to create the GNA, to form the Presidency Council and to end the political impasse.