Violent Protests that erupted in Libya's capital Sunday have left at least two members of Libya's interim parliament wounded as turmoil continues to envelope the city, according to Agence France Presse.
Protestors attacked the General National Congress headquarters in downtown Tripoli after the GNC announced early elections will be held earlier this week. However, the parliamentary leadership, which has already "stirred popular anger" after its extended its office mandate to the end of the year in early February, did not set a date for the elections.
According to AFP's sources, dozens of protestors entered the GNC headquarters demanding that the parliamentary body resign. GNC Spokesman Omar Hmidan said that the protestors later "attacked and abused" GNC deputies, including officials' cars. Another GNC member said the protestors entered with knives and sticks and were chanting "resign, resign."
Media reports say that congressman Abdelrahman Al Swihli was shot while trying to leave the headquarters, but this infomation is not yet confirmed.
GNC Speaker Nuri Abu Shamein, however, told reporters that "Two (GNC) members were hit by bullets when they tried to leave the venue in their cars."
According to protestors, on the other hand, their peaceful sit-in that was staged Saturday night was broken up by gunmen who detained some of the protestors and set fire to the demonstrators' tent. The activities on Saturday evening even prompted the judiciary to release a statement condemning the "[abduction] of youth who were expressing their views."
The gunmen were allegedly part of the Operations Cell of Libyan Revolutionaries which is a former rebel group that operates under the command of the GNC.
The GNC has come under the Libyan people's severe scrutiny and criticism who "accuse [the GNC] of corruption and [failure] to provide them with a better life" since the oust of former dictator Moammar Gaddafi three years ago.
