Libya has foiled an attempt by a group of former army officers and politicians to stage a military coup, Defence Minister Abduallah al-Theni said on February 12. “The Supreme Leader of the Armed Forces, Nouri Abusahmain, has ordered the arrest of the officers and politicians who tried to stage a coup against legitimacy,” al-Theni told the private Ahrar Libya TV. He added that the Libyan army and revolutionaries were currently hunting down the leaders of the failed coup attempt.
Libyan lawmaker Abdel Rahman al-Dibani said that the General National Congress (the country’s interim parliament) had received information from Libyan military intelligence regarding attempts by a group of army officers and politicians to form a military council and overthrow the country’s interim parliament and government. According to reports, parliament cancelled its scheduled February 11 morning session due to the alleged coup attempt.