Ali Zidan. Photo: Wikipedia.

WSJ – Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zidan was briefly kidnapped early Thursday morning from the luxury hotel where he resides by armed gunmen from a group allegedly supported by a rival politician, officials said.

Scores of militants stormed the Corinthia Hotel in downtown Tripoli at about 3 a.m., ferreting Mr. Zidan away in a convoy after a scuffle with hotel security guards and the prime minister’s bodyguards. The gunmen claimed to have an arrest warrant for Mr. Zidan, according to Libyan Justice Minister Salah Marghani, who denied a warrant existed. He added that three of Mr. Zidan’s bodyguards went with him when he was taken away.

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