Libya claims to foil military coup
TRIPOLI
Libya has foiled an attempt by a group of former army officers and politicians to stage a military coup, Defense Minister Abduallah al-Theni said Wednesday.
"The Supreme Leader of the Armed Forces [NouriAbusahmain] has ordered the arrest of the officers and politicians who tried to stage a coup against legitimacy," al-Theni told the private Ahrar Libya TV.
He added that the Libyan army and revolutionaries were currently hunting down the leaders of the failed coup attempt.
Libyan lawmaker Abdel Rahman al-Dibani told Anadolu Agency earlier that the General National Congress (the country's interim parliament) had received information from Libyan military intelligence regarding attempts by a group of army officers and politicians to form a military council and overthrow the country's interim parliament and government.
According to informed sources, parliament canceled its scheduled Tuesday morning session due to the alleged coup attempt.
An earlier decision by parliament to extend its mandate by one year ended up triggering a political crisis in the already-tense country.
The current parliament's tenure should have come to an end on February 7, but some observers – both inside and outside parliament –say the assembly has not yet achieved its mission.
Libya's parliament was formed in July 2012 with the aim of implementing a transitional roadmap that includes the appointment of a prime minister and the election of a constitution-drafting committee.
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