Interim Libyan prime minister declines to form new government and says he will step down

TRIPOLI, Libya – Libya’s government says the interim prime minister has declined a parliamentary mandate to form a new government and will instead step down.

Interim Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani announced Sunday on the interim government website that he was leaving his post, but would stay on as head of the Cabinet until a replacement could be found. He said that he had made his decision in the interest of the country and because of an armed attack on him and his family Saturday.

The Libyan government has been in turmoil since the overthrow of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. Previous Prime Minister Ali Zidan was pushed out of office in a no-confidence vote by parliament on March 11.

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