Libya’s eastern-based government resigns amid Benghazi protests
Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani submitted the government's resignation on Sunday, a spokesperson for the eastern-based parliament said.
The government aligned with Libyan strongman Khalifa Hifter resigned on Sunday following days of protests in Benghazi and other eastern cities.
Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani submitted his government's resignation to the Tobruk-based House of Representatives speaker, Aguila Saleh, a parliament spokesman said. Lawmakers in the eastern parliament will review the decision in their next meeting.
Libya is ruled by two rival administrations, each propped up by foreign backers who have flooded the country with illegal arms and mercenaries. The internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) is based in the capital, Tripoli, and Hifter’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) is aligned with the Tobruk-based government and controls much of the eastern part of the country.
The fighting has slowed since the GNA regained full control of Tripoli in June, bringing an end to a 14-month offensive by Hifter’s forces. Now, a battle is looming over the oil-rich city of Sirte, which Hifter’s LNA has occupied since January.
