Libyan parliament to meet at Tripoli hotel following attack

TRIPOLI

A spokesman for Libya's interim parliament said Monday the assembly would hold its first session since being attacked by armed protesters on Sunday at a Tripoli hotel later on Monday.

Scores of demonstrators, including armed ones, stormed the parliament building on Sunday, setting parts of it ablaze.

The attack prompted army personnel guarding the parliament to withdraw from the area.

On Monday, traffic returned to normal near parliament headquarters in the Libyan capital. Army and police armored cars could be seen in the area, while security men deployed around the building.

The government has denounced Sunday's attack on the parliament building, calling on citizens to pursue peaceful means of protest and show self-restraint.

In a Monday statement, the government called for opening dialogue with the protesters.

The mandate of Libya's interim parliament should have expired on February 7, but the assembly recently decided to extend its mandate by one year.

The U.N. mission in Libya also denounced the attack on the parliament building and stressed the importance of continuing Libya's political process with the aim of achieving democratic transition.

Parliament Speaker Nouri Abusahmain, for his part, asserted that parliament would only hand power over to an elected government.

Abusahmain added that the interim parliament would continue down the road of revolution and nation building.

Libyans have been struggling to restore order to their country since the 2011 uprising that ultimately led to the fall of longstanding strongman Muammar Gaddafi.

englishnews@aa.com.tr