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| Libya supreme court 'invalidates' elected parliament | Libya supreme court 'invalidates' elected parliament |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Libya's supreme court has invalidated the country's internationally recognised parliament after a legal challenge by a group of politicians. | Libya's supreme court has invalidated the country's internationally recognised parliament after a legal challenge by a group of politicians. |
| The court said the parliament was unconstitutional, dealing a blow to Libya's elected government, which is operating in the country's east. | The court said the parliament was unconstitutional, dealing a blow to Libya's elected government, which is operating in the country's east. |
| The ruling was celebrated by militias occupying the capital Tripoli which have set up an alternative parliament. | The ruling was celebrated by militias occupying the capital Tripoli which have set up an alternative parliament. |
| A Libyan MP told the BBC: "We do not recognize ... this ruling." | |
| Abu-Bakr Buera added that the ruling was "baseless" and said it was "a step towards dividing the country", which Libya's parliament, elected in June, would not comply with. | Abu-Bakr Buera added that the ruling was "baseless" and said it was "a step towards dividing the country", which Libya's parliament, elected in June, would not comply with. |
| Libya's supreme court is based in Tripoli, raising questions as to whether its decision was influenced by the ruling armed groups. | Libya's supreme court is based in Tripoli, raising questions as to whether its decision was influenced by the ruling armed groups. |
| The BBC's Libya correspondent Rana Jawad says Thursday's ruling effectively dissolves the country's parliament. | The BBC's Libya correspondent Rana Jawad says Thursday's ruling effectively dissolves the country's parliament. |
| The reason for the court's decision is not yet clear. The news agency AFP said those behind the challenge - a minority group of dissident MPs - say the parliament is unconstitutional because it does not sit in Tripoli or Benghazi. | The reason for the court's decision is not yet clear. The news agency AFP said those behind the challenge - a minority group of dissident MPs - say the parliament is unconstitutional because it does not sit in Tripoli or Benghazi. |
| The group added that parliament had overstepped its authority by calling for foreign military assistance against the militias. | The group added that parliament had overstepped its authority by calling for foreign military assistance against the militias. |
| Infighting and instability | Infighting and instability |
| Libya has been plagued by instability since the overthrow of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. | Libya has been plagued by instability since the overthrow of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. |
| Islamist-leaning militia groups, some of them remnants of forces which helped oust Gaddafi, have been fighting for power among themselves. | Islamist-leaning militia groups, some of them remnants of forces which helped oust Gaddafi, have been fighting for power among themselves. |
| Recent clashes forced the country's parliament to move to the small city of Tobruk near the Egyptian border, with different militia groups controlling most of the country including Libya's two largest cities, Tripoli and Benghazi. | Recent clashes forced the country's parliament to move to the small city of Tobruk near the Egyptian border, with different militia groups controlling most of the country including Libya's two largest cities, Tripoli and Benghazi. |
| The groups, who took control of Tripoli in August, attempted to reinstate Libya's previous parliament and appoint a parallel government, but this has not been recognised internationally. | The groups, who took control of Tripoli in August, attempted to reinstate Libya's previous parliament and appoint a parallel government, but this has not been recognised internationally. |
| 'We will go back' | 'We will go back' |
| On Thursday the Times newspaper published an interview with Ahmed Gaddaf al-Dam, a cousin of Gaddafi, who said former regime figures were planning to return to Libya within two months once government forces had regained control of the country's major cities. | On Thursday the Times newspaper published an interview with Ahmed Gaddaf al-Dam, a cousin of Gaddafi, who said former regime figures were planning to return to Libya within two months once government forces had regained control of the country's major cities. |
| Mr Dam claimed exiled supporters of Gaddafi were in talks with parliament, despite it being forced out of the capital. | Mr Dam claimed exiled supporters of Gaddafi were in talks with parliament, despite it being forced out of the capital. |
| The former soldier said he wanted to get "Libya back from this mess" and supports a national reconciliation programme. | The former soldier said he wanted to get "Libya back from this mess" and supports a national reconciliation programme. |
| "We are optimistic, in a couple of months peace is coming to Libya," Mr Dam told the newspaper. "And we will go back", he added. | "We are optimistic, in a couple of months peace is coming to Libya," Mr Dam told the newspaper. "And we will go back", he added. |