Libyan Premier-Designate escapes murder attempt

(AGI) Tripoli, Jan 9 - Libyan Prime Minister-Designate, Fayez al-Sarraj, escaped a murder attempt on Friday, during his first visit in Libya since he took office. Al-Sarraj was in Libya to convey his condolences to the families of the victims of the terrorist attack that took place in Zliten two days ago, in which 70 people were killed and about 100 injured. The attempt on his life in Libyan territory seems to confirm that the Prime Minister-Designate does not yet have the full support of local political forces despite international backing. Al-Sarraj had departed for Misrata on Friday from the airport of Tunis, where he had just met with the European Union's chief diplomat, Federica Mogherini. Before landing, his airplane continued flying for two hours while waiting for authorisation to land, which was about to be denied. After the aircraft landed, Mr al-Sarraj got off the plane and was surrounded by a group of militias opposing his national accord government. After an hour of heated verbal exchanges, his convoy finally left Misrata Airport and headed for Zliten, where he attended the funeral organised for the victims and visited the injured. On his way back from Zliten to Misrata, his convoy came across an armed commando on board of five vehicles which opened fire on the vehicles despite al-Sarraj's security forces, engaging in a shootout. The Prime Minister-Designate and his staff were obliged to drive back to Zliten and take refuge in a safe place. A couple of hours later, al-Sarraj's delegation finally reached Misrata Airport in helicopter and boarded the airplane back to Tunis. (AGI) .
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