Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Libya has been plunged into what was deemed its worst crisis since the overthrow of Col. Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Islamist militias abducted Libya’s prime minister in downtown Tripoli in wake of a U.S. operation in the North African capital.

A militia linked to the Defense Ministry has claimed responsibility and said Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, later released, would be prosecuted.

“The head of the transitional government, Ali Zeidan, was taken to an unknown destination for unknown reasons by a group,” a government statement said.

The abduction took place on early Oct. 10 at Zeidan’s suite in a Tripoli hotel that served as his residence. Officials said the Cabinet and General National Congress oversaw efforts for Zeidan’s return, which included contact with his captors, identified as the Operations Cell of Revolutionaries.

“We are calling on all citizens to remain calm,” the government said.

Officials said the Operations Cell was merged with Libya’s military and
security forces in 2013 in an effort to end the militia takeover over much
of the country. But they said Operations Cell, deployed around Tripoli, was
believed to have retained loyalty to militia commanders.

“He [Zeidan] was arrested under the Libyan penal code on the
instructions of the public prosecutor,” Operations Cell said.

Zeidan was believed to have relayed Libyan approval for the U.S.
abduction of a senior Al Qaida operative, Abu Anas Al Libi. Al Libi was
captured by U.S. special forces in Tripoli on Oct. 5 and taken for
questioning on a U.S. Navy ship.

“What have you done for Libya?” Operations Cell spokesman Abdul Haim
Belazi shouted at Zeidan in a video. “You took control at a time when Libya
was moving forward and developing. Now you’ve destroyed everything.”

After several hours, Zeidan was released. Officials said the prime
minister was not harmed but berated for approving the U.S. abduction.
“If the aim of the kidnapping operation was for me to present my
resignation, then I won’t resign,” Zeidan said in a statement.

  Abu Anas Al Libi, Ali Zeidan, Chaos: Libyan prime minister abducted after U.S. special forces captured terrorist, General National Congress, Operations Cell of Revolutionaries