Libyan Government lost its control over state offices in Tripoli to Militants

Libyan Government on 1 September 2014 lost its control over state offices in Tripoli to Militants. Tripoli is the capital of Libya.

Energy-rich Libya has slipped ever deeper into chaos since veteran dictator Moammar Gadhafi was overthrown and killed in 2011.

Gunmen surrounded government offices, threatened ministers with assassination and prevented employees from entering their workplaces.

Comment

Libya now has two competing parliaments, with each declaring the other illegitimate. The Tobruk-based House of Representatives on 1 September 2014 reappointed Abdullah Thinni as prime minister and asked him to form a new government.

Abdullah Thinni was originally named prime minister in March 2014, but that was challenged by the Islamist-dominated General National Congress, the rival parliament that has refused to disband.