Libyan officials silent on reported assassination attempt

[1/3] FILE PHOTO: Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah speaks after submitting his candidacy papers for the upcoming presidential election at the headquarters of the electoral commission in Tripoli, Libya November 21, 2021. REUTERS/Hazem Ahmed/File Photo/File Photo

TRIPOLI, Feb 10 (Reuters) - A source close to Libya's interim prime minister said early on Thursday that the premier had survived an assassination attempt overnight, but authorities made no public statement on the matter.

The source said the incident happened as Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah was returning home, describing it as a clear assassination attempt. The source said the attackers had fled and the incident had been reported for investigation.

Al Jazeera television later showed what it said was Dbeibah's vehicle, which had what appeared to be a bullet mark on the windscreen and two other marks on a headlight and the chassis.

Reuters could not immediately verify the images or speak to other witnesses to the incident.

A spokesperson for Dbeibah's Government of National Unity was not immediately available for comment.

Reporting by Reuters Libya newsroom, Hani Amara in Istanbul and Enas Alashray and Moaz Abd-Alaziz in Cairo; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Gerry Doyle and Kevin Liffey

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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