Libya Parliament Moves to 5-Star Hotel After Attack

Protesters stormed parliament last night
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 3, 2014 1:13 PM CST
Libya Parliament Moves to 5-Star Hotel After Attack
In this Sunday, March 2, 2014 photo, protesters stand atop a vehicle as others burn in front of the National Conference Hall, in Tripoli, Libya.   (AP Photo/Mohamed Ben Khalifa)

After a deadly attack last night, Libya's parliament has relocated and will meet in a five-star Tripoli hotel. Tensions in the country have been high, with rival militias backing Prime Minister Ali Zidan and the Islamist factions in parliament that oppose him. Dozens of protesters stormed parliament yesterday, shooting guns, throwing bottles, and setting things on fire, the AP reports. A guard was killed, two lawmakers were shot, three were beaten up, and one was wounded by broken glass.

Parliament's term ended on Feb. 7, but lawmakers voted to extend it and hold new elections in the spring, leading hundreds of protesters to demonstrate each day and demand parliament be disbanded immediately. No date for the new elections has been set, CNN reports. Yesterday's attack was preceded by an attack on an anti-parliament sit-in; unidentified assailants set fire to a tent and then kidnapped two of the protesters. Some lawmakers think yesterday's attack was a reaction to that incident. (More Libya stories.)

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