Demonstrators storm eastern city’s legislature over political deadlock and deteriorating living conditions

Protesters have stormed Libya’s parliament in the eastern city of Tobruk and set parts of it ablaze, venting their anger at deteriorating living conditions and months of political deadlock.

Black smoke billowed as men burned tyres and torched cars during the incident on Friday after a protester smashed through the compound’s gate with a bulldozer and others attacked the walls with construction tools, local media reported.

Fathi Bashagha forced to withdraw in the face of opposition from Libya’s military

Fighting broke out in Tripoli after one of the two rival Libyan prime ministers entered the capital to claim the role only to flee hours later when he realised he had misjudged the scale of military opposition.

Fathi Bashagha said he had retreated to prevent further bloodshed. It was clear he found that the levels of militia support he had been promised were not forthcoming. He had entered the city in secret overnight with the support of one powerful armed group, the eighth brigade, but it found itself isolated and no other support arrived from outside the city.

Eastern-based parliament appoints former interior minister, but interim PM refuses to step aside

Libya’s political turmoil is set to worsen after its eastern-based parliament appointed a new prime minister and the interim incumbent refused to step aside.

A spokesperson for the parliament said it had chosen the former interior minister Fathi Bashagha by acclamation after the only other candidate withdrew. However, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who heads the internationally recognised Government of National Accord, has rejected the parliament’s moves, saying he will only hand over power after a national election.

Electoral body proposes one-month delay but it is unclear whether idea will be accepted by rival bodies jostling for power

Libya’s chief electoral body has announced a plan to delay elections set for 24 December by a month, but it is unclear if the rival bodies jostling for power will accept the proposal.

With Libya’s political transition in crisis, the proposed new date, set out by the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), is the first attempt to draw up a new roadmap. Bitter unresolved disputes over the legal basis for the elections and who was eligible to stand have been crushing the international community’s hopes that elections would mark a reset after a decade of war and infighting, largely between the east and west of Libya.

US ambassador says delay would put country at mercy of those who prefer ‘bullet power over ballot power’

The chances of Libya staging its first presidential elections on the long planned date of 24 December appeared close to collapse on Sunday after the body overseeing the vote said it was unable to announce the the approved candidates because of continued legal doubts.

With the elections less than a fortnight away and virtually no time for campaigning, a postponement would represent a bitter blow to the international community’s hopes of reuniting the deeply divided country.