A reported assassination attempt against a senior member of Libya’s Government of National Accord on Sunday increased tensions in the country before a crucial vote on a new unity government.
Fighting erupted around the motorcade of Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha as it sped along a highway in Janzour, a western suburb of Tripoli. The GNA is one of two rival governments in the politically fragmented country.
Mr Bashagha, who was unharmed in the battle, insisted it was an assassination attempt, telling the Reuters news agency that “it is not an incident that came by chance, but was well planned”.
One of Mr Bashagha’s security guards was killed in the incident, along with one of the attackers, while two others were arrested at the scene.
Surveillance video footage of the incident from a nearby store shows what appears to be a collision between one of the jeeps in the minister’s fast-moving convoy and another vehicle.
The other vehicle then loses control and overturns. The grainy footage shows several armoured vehicles in the motorcade closing the highway. More details are expected in the coming days, with investigators due to interrogate those arrested.
Hours after the collision, US ambassador Richard Norland phoned Mr Bashagha to offer his support.
“Minister Bashagha’s focus on ending the influence of rogue militias has our full support,” Mr Norland wrote on the embassy's Twitter account.
But late on Sunday, the Stabilisation Support Apparatus said its personnel were involved in the firefight.
The SSA was set up last year by the GNA's prime minister, Fayez Al Sarraj, to improve security in Tripoli.
It denied that there was an assassination attempt, claiming that Mr Bashagha’s units had opened fire on one of its vehicles.
Whatever the cause, the incident underlines the precarious security situation in the capital, where dozens of militias vie for control, engaging in occasional street skirmishes with one another.
A gun battle erupted on Sunday night in the city centre, although it is not known if this was connected to the motorcade incident.
While tensions are high in the capital, the conflict between GNA forces and the Libyan National Army has subsided after a ceasefire was signed in November.
Mr Bashagha is a high-profile political figure in western Libya, and he has used his time as interior minister to campaign against the militias, arguing that the capital’s security forces should come under government control.
Last summer, he was briefly fired from his post by Mr Al Sarraj after Interior Ministry forces were blamed for opening fire against protesters demonstrating against falling living conditions. A week later, a government inquiry cleared him of wrongdoing and he was reinstated.
More recently, Mr Bashagha made overtures of peace to Aguila Saleh, Speaker of the House of Representatives parliament in the east.
Mr Bashagha has been instrumental in supporting the ceasefire, which is held in place by a military commission based in Geneva and staffed by officials from both sides. He has also supported the formation of a Government of National Unity.
The GNU is the result of a complicated UN-facilitated process to break the impasse between the rival governments. Its goal is to supervise elections due in December.
The GNU was set up by the 75-strong Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, which meets in Geneva. The LPDF had been expected to choose Mr Bashagha and Mr Saleh to form the GNU's leadership.
Instead, it chose lesser-known political figures.
Parliament must vote by Friday on the Cabinet proposed by GNU Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh.
If it votes against it, the Cabinet can still be approved by the LPDF. But without parliamentary backing, the GNU may struggle to impose its authority on Libya.
Mr Bashagha and Mr Saleh have publicly backed the GNU, and both men are seen by diplomats as crucial to its success.
Sunday’s gun battle made it clear that Tripoli’s security will be the GNU’s most urgent task.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Dunki
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The UAE squad for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
The jiu-jitsu men’s team: Faisal Al Ketbi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Yahia Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Obaid Al Nuaimi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Mazroui, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Salem Al Suwaidi, Khalfan Belhol, Saood Al Hammadi.
Women’s team: Mouza Al Shamsi, Wadeema Al Yafei, Reem Al Hashmi, Mahra Al Hanaei, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Hessa Thani, Salwa Al Ali.
Squads
India (for first three ODIs) Kohli (capt), Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Jadhav, Rahane, Dhoni, Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Umesh, Shami.
Australia Smith (capt), Warner, Agar, Cartwright, Coulter-Nile, Cummins, Faulkner, Finch, Head, Maxwell, Richardson, Stoinis, Wade, Zampa.
Copa del Rey
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh 185,000 2,000m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,200m
10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m
