Lawmakers kidnapped by militias in Libya's parliament

AFP reports that a Libyan militia kidnapped a number of lawmakers during an attempt to storm the parliament headquarters.

This follows news from the Associated Press of heavy gunfire heard in Libya’s capital Tripoli.

According to the reporter stationed in Libya, the gunfire was coming from a site close to the parliament building.

Official sources report that the speaker of parliament Omar Hamdan is "safe", and was not among the personnel who were kidnapped in the attack.

The Libyan television channel al-Ahrar reported that lawmakers had received warnings that the General National Congress would be attacked on Sunday.

A-Jazeera cites eye-witness reports that a group of fighters armed with heavy weaponry had stormed the front gates of the parliament building.

The morning of 18 May saw delegates meet at the congress to swear in the new government appointed by Prime Minister Ahmed Maitiq.

However, Afrigate reports that members were unable to vote on the proposed new cabinet, as delegates from Benghazi had been unable to attend due to the unrest there.

Before reports of gunfire emerged, the parliament postponed Sunday’s vote to Tuesday May 20. 

Below are a few updates from social media on the apparent storming of the Parliament building:

ليبيا: الناطق باسم القوات التابعة للواء خليفة حفتر لوسائل إعلام ليبية: عملية الكرامة بدأت في طرابلس

 Translation: Libya: The official spokesperson for the forces allied to General Khalifa Haftar tells Libyan media: Operation Dignity has begun in Tripoli

Airport Road #Tripoli...armed convoys heading towards GNC building. #Libya pic.twitter.com/CLIO7XyenD