THREE KILLED IN ISIS ATTACK ON LIBYAN GOVERNMENT BUILDING
▶ Dozens injured after car bomb explodes and suicide bombers hit foreign ministry in Tripoli
Three ISIS militants attacked the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Tripoli yesterday, killing at least three people and injuring dozens.
The attackers stormed the ministry headquarters after a car bomb exploded in front of the building. Two attackers set off their suicide vests inside the ministry and the third was killed by ministry guards, Reuters reported.
At least three members of staff were killed and 21 were wounded, health ministry spokeswoman Wedad Abo Al Niran said.
The director of the Islamic Affairs Department, Ibrahim Al Shaieb, was among the dead, said the Foreign Minister, Mohamed Siala, who escaped injury.
No group has claimed responsibility but a security source said the three attackers were ISIS extremists.
The Foreign Ministry denounced the attack on its employees, saying: “The Libyan people are waging a war on terrorism on behalf of the world.”
Mr Siala decried an arms ban imposed on the Libyan Army since the fall of former dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.
In March 2011, the UN Security Council passed resolution 1970, which bars all member states from selling weapons to Libya.
The UN’s special representative of the UN Secretary General in Libya condemned the attack, reaffirming the UN’s commitment to working with the Libyan government.
“Terrorism will not triumph over the Libyans’ decision to move forward towards building their state and renouncing violence,” said Ghassan Salame.
“We will not accept any attack on a state institution, especially one committed by a terrorist group. We will work with the Libyan people to prevent terrorist groups from turning Libya into a haven or an arena for their crimes.”
The Libyan Interior Minister, Ashour Shuwail, admitted there had been a security lapse, which he planned to overcome.
At the attack site, flames ravaged the inside of the building and thick smoke wafted into the sky. Fire and rescue teams eventually brought the blaze under control.
The ministry will have to move to another headquarters.
Officials have been unable to halt terrorist attacks as rival governments vie for power in a political tug-of-war that has stunted attempts to stabilise and rebuild the nation.
Libya descended into chaos after uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt led to similar protests against Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.
After Qaddafi’s removal and killing, two rival governments and parliaments emerged: one in Tripoli led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and the other in the eastern city of Tobruk led by Fayez Al Sarraj.
In 2015 a UN-backed accord was signed in Morocco creating the Government of National Accord, in Tripoli, but when Mr Al Sarraj arrived to set up the new government, Field Marshal Haftar refused to recognise it.
Peace talks last year led to a ceasefire and an agreement on elections. The two sides met again in May, weeks after ISIS suicide attackers killed 14 people at Libya’s electoral commission, and committed to holding parliamentary and presidential polls this month.
ISIS has been forced to withdraw from towns and cities it held in Libya but has proven to have a small but potent force in the country.
In June, militants attacked two north-eastern oil sites under Field Marshal Haftar’s control.
Elections are due to be held by spring and a referendum on a new constitution could take place as early as February, assuming security guarantees are met.
Officials have been unable to halt terrorist attacks as rival governments vie for power