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Libyan PM Ali Zeidan seized by armed men | Libyan PM Ali Zeidan seized by armed men |
(35 minutes later) | |
Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has been seized by armed men from a hotel in the capital, Tripoli. | Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has been seized by armed men from a hotel in the capital, Tripoli. |
Mr Zeidan was taken at dawn "by gunmen to an unknown place for unknown reasons", said a statement on the government's website. | |
The details of the incident are unclear - sources say Mr Zeidan was arrested by an anti-crime department militia, but others that he had been kidnapped. | The details of the incident are unclear - sources say Mr Zeidan was arrested by an anti-crime department militia, but others that he had been kidnapped. |
On Tuesday he called on the West to help stop militancy in Libya. | On Tuesday he called on the West to help stop militancy in Libya. |
In an interview with the BBC on Monday, Mr Zeidan had said Libya was being used as a base to export weapons throughout the region. | In an interview with the BBC on Monday, Mr Zeidan had said Libya was being used as a base to export weapons throughout the region. |
He called on the West to help stop militancy in Libya. | He called on the West to help stop militancy in Libya. |
Cabinet summoned | Cabinet summoned |
The BBC's Rana Jawad, in Tripoli, says the details remain unclear, but that Mr Zeidan was taken by armed men from a hotel in the city in the early hours of the morning. | The BBC's Rana Jawad, in Tripoli, says the details remain unclear, but that Mr Zeidan was taken by armed men from a hotel in the city in the early hours of the morning. |
The government website said he had been taken "to an unknown place for unknown reasons by a group thought to be from the Tripoli Revolutionaries Control Room and the Committee for Fighting Crime". | The government website said he had been taken "to an unknown place for unknown reasons by a group thought to be from the Tripoli Revolutionaries Control Room and the Committee for Fighting Crime". |
It said the cabinet had had been summoned for an immediate meeting under the leadership of the deputy minister. | It said the cabinet had had been summoned for an immediate meeting under the leadership of the deputy minister. |
Two years after the revolt which overthrew Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's government has been struggling to contain rival tribal militias and Islamist militants who control parts of the country. | Two years after the revolt which overthrew Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's government has been struggling to contain rival tribal militias and Islamist militants who control parts of the country. |
On Monday, Libya demanded an explanation from the US ambassador over the capture of suspected al-Qaeda leader Anas al-Liby in Tripoli. | On Monday, Libya demanded an explanation from the US ambassador over the capture of suspected al-Qaeda leader Anas al-Liby in Tripoli. |
Mr Liby was wanted over the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. He was seized by US commandos in an early morning raid on Saturday. | Mr Liby was wanted over the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. He was seized by US commandos in an early morning raid on Saturday. |
Our correspondent says that it is too soon to link Mr Zeidan's seizure with the capture of Mr Liby. | Our correspondent says that it is too soon to link Mr Zeidan's seizure with the capture of Mr Liby. |
Last month Mr Zeidan visited the UK and appealed for British help to remove weapons from the country amid fears of increased arms smuggling to Syria. | Last month Mr Zeidan visited the UK and appealed for British help to remove weapons from the country amid fears of increased arms smuggling to Syria. |
In April he urged Libyans to back their government in the face of "people who want to destabilise the country". | In April he urged Libyans to back their government in the face of "people who want to destabilise the country". |
He also complained at that time of other attacks and "acts of sabotage" carried out by separate groups, against the interior ministry and national TV headquarters. | He also complained at that time of other attacks and "acts of sabotage" carried out by separate groups, against the interior ministry and national TV headquarters. |