Special to WorldTribune.com

In the midst of ongoing chaos which has seen Libya fragmented into two competing governments and militias battling for control of the country’s oil wealth, Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani has vowed to resign and supporters of former strongman Col. Moammar Gadhafi have established a new foothold.

Thani, who heads Libya’s internationally recognized government in Tobruk, said he would resign during a live television appearance on Aug. 11 in which citizens blamed his government for failing to provide basic services such as electricity and a lack of security in areas the Thani-led government controls.

“If my exit is the solution, then I announce it here,” Thani said during the broadcast. “My resignation will be submitted to the parliament on Sunday.”

Meanwhile, supporters of the toppled Gadhafi regime have staged large protests throughout Libya after a Tripoli court on July 28 sentenced Gadhafi’s son and eight other prominent former regime officials to death.

Prior to the verdict, Gadhafi loyalists had all but disappeared from public life over the past four years. Now, however, they are using the July 28 death sentences and the ongoing chaos in the country as a springboard to launch a new grab for power.

A large number of Libyans are disillusioned by the country’s elected leadership since Gadhafi’s overthrow in 2011. The cities of Derna and Sirte were given no protection as they came under brutal assault from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). Derna, helped by air strikes from the Egyptian military, was able to fend of ISIL’s attack, but Sirte came under full control of the terror group.

Thani’s resignation threat added to the political chaos as Libya’s rival governments met on Aug. 11 for a second day of UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva.

Government spokesman Hatem el-Ouraybi said Thani’s promise was conditional. “The prime minister said during the interview that he would resign if people wanted him to, that’s it,” Ouraybi told AFP.

  Abdullah Al Thani, Gadhafi loyalists re-emerge, Libya hell: Prime minister says he’ll resign as Gadhafi loyalists re-emerge, Tobruk, Tripoli, WorldTribune.com