On Saturday, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a firm appeal to all Libyan parties to exercise maximum restraint in light of the worsening security situation in Tripoli, where anti-government protests have turned violent.
In a statement, the Egyptian government also advised its nationals in Libya to remain indoors and stay in contact with its embassy in Tripoli amid rising tensions.
The call for calm comes after violent unrest erupted in Libya’s capital on Friday during large-scale protests demanding the resignation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) headed by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba.
According to official Libyan sources, a member of the police was killed by unknown gunmen during an alleged attempt by a group of protesters to storm the government headquarters.
Libyan authorities condemned the incident as a direct assault on state institutions, accusing “infiltrators” among the demonstrators of attempting to destabilize the country.
The government said security forces had successfully repelled the attack and were working to restore calm.
Prime Minister Dbaiba addressed the events in a televised statement, reiterating that the right to peaceful protest remains a key gain of the February 2011 revolution.
Meanwhile, conflicting reports surfaced online regarding the resignation of several ministers from the GNU. The government quickly dismissed the rumors, insisting that its cabinet continues to function normally and that any official announcements will only be issued through authorized state channels.
Prominent political figures, including former High Council of State president Khaled al-Mishri, seized on the unrest to reiterate their calls for the Dbaiba government to step down, labeling it politically and legally illegitimate.
As tensions continue to mount, Egypt reaffirmed its support for Libyan sovereignty, while calling for calm and dialogue to avoid further destabilization
