Libya PM Kidnapped Day after Islamists Threaten Revenge

Supporters of the militant group, Ansar al-Shariah, burn an American flag and shout anti-American slogans in the center of Benghazi, Libya, Monday. Photo by Getty Images

Rebels have kidnapped Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan a day after Libyan Islamists threatened revenge on Westerners.

Their anger was triggered by US forces who seized al-Qaeda leader Abu Anas al-Libi from his Tripoli home.

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, Zeidan called on the West to help stop militancy in Libya.

In an interview with the BBC he said it was being used as a weapons base.

The prime minister told the Newsnight programme that his country was being used to export weapons throughout the region.

Rebels have kidnapped Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan and taken him to an undisclosed location, his spokeswoman told CNN early Thursday.

Armed rebels escorted the prime minister from the Corinthian Hotel in Tripoli into a convoy of waiting cars, said a hotel clerk who was not authorized to speak to the media.

The witness reported no gunfire during the incident, and said the gunmen was respectful and "caused no trouble."

Zeidan's office initially called the abduction a "rumor" on its official Facebook page. Then it posted a note that said it was "coerced by kidnappers to deny the report."

Zeidan, a former Geneva-based human rights lawyer, took office in November 2012.

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