Libya's Interior Minister Resumes Work after Suspension

Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) restored on Thursday interior minister, Fathi Bashagha to his post.

Bashagha has been temporarily suspended in the aftermath of the incident that saw militiamen open fire on peaceful demonstrators last week.

The minister also faced an inquiry on his statements about the protests and incidents in Tripoli and other cities.

The GNA revealed Thursday on Facebook that Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj had lifted the temporary suspension of Bashagha, who would resume his work on the same day.

The minister announced in a statement posted on the internet that he had been reinstated after a five-hour hearing about the protests and the role of the security forces.

Hundreds of Libyans staged late last month several days of demonstrations in the capital over poor living conditions and public services, who came under attack by gunmen firing live rounds, leaving several people wounded.

Bashagha said last week that the gunmen also kidnapped demonstrators, sowing panic among the population and threatening security, and public order, and vowed to protect unarmed civilians from the brutality of a gang of thugs.

Libya has endured almost a decade of violent chaos since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi. The country's main military fault line is between the Libya National Army (LNA) lead by strongman Khalifa Haftar and the forces that back the GNA.