TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) The leader of Libya's Muslim Brotherhood political party said Saturday that the country's prime minister who was briefly abducted by militia members earlier this week has failed and needs to be replaced.
Mohammed Sawan, leader of Justice and Construction party, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Saturday from Benghazi that the Libyan parliament is "seriously searching for an alternative" to Ali Zidan. Sawan said mismanagement by Zidan's government might have led to "irresponsible actions" by individuals, referring to Zidan's kidnapping.
Simmering tensions in Libya were enflamed by an Oct. 5 raid by U.S. special forces that snatched a Libyan al-Qaida suspect known as Abu Anas al-Libi off the streets of Tripoli and whisked him off to custody in a U.S. warship.
"This was a blatant violation to the national sovereignty," Sawan said. He added: "It has caused big problems and grave repercussions."
Zidan for months has been facing mounting pressures from parliament, first by Islamist blocs including the Muslim Brotherhood and another group of ultraconservative Salafis. Independents later joined the criticism of Zidan over allegations of corruption and wasting public fund, as well as the country's deteriorating security.