By Libya Herald.
Tripoli, 18 May 2014:
Heavy fire from anti-aircraft guns and automatic weapons can be heard around the General National Congress . . .[restrict](GNC) and Congress members have been evacuated.
Congress member Abdulla El Kabier told the Libya Herald that the building was attacked with heavy gunfire from the outside. He said all those members still in the main chamber of the GNC had been evacuated quickly throughout he back-door. However some support staff are still believed to be inside.
He said it was likely that much of the shooting had been an exchange of fire between security forces outside the building and the attacking armed group. While there is speculation that the attack was mounted by Zintani brigades this has not been confirmed.
GNC member Mohammed Younis Al-Mainifi told Libya Al-Ahrar that he didn’t know who attacked the building but there had been rumours of a potential assault in the build up to today’s session.
Kabier said he felt the shooting was the result of dissatisfaction with the GNC’s decision to postpone an agreement on Ahmed Maetiq’s new government and the budget.
Mohammed Hajazi, the officials spokesperson for the General Chief of staff has said the National Army forces on the GNC to seize it and end what he described its silliness. He said the national army forces had been met with fire from an extremism militia and this GNC has been backing up the terrorist groups. [/restrict]
