The source said the incident took place when Dabiba was returning home, calling it an apparent attempt to murder, adding that the attackers fled and the incident has been sent to investigate.
Footage taken by regional Al Jazeera TV later showed what he said was Dabiba’s vehicle, with what appeared to be bullet marks on the windscreen and two other marks on the headlight and chassis. Reuters could not immediately verify the images and did not speak to other witnesses to the incident.
If confirmed, Dabeba’s assassination attempt could escalate the crisis over Libya’s control, as he said he would ignore a vote set by the eastern-based parliament to replace him later on Thursday.
The armed forces have mobilized more fighter and equipment in the capital in recent weeks, sparking fears that a political crisis could escalate fighting.
There has been little peace or stability in Libya since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising against Moammar Gaddafi, and it split between warring facts in the East and West in 2014.
Dabibah was installed in March as the head of the United Nations-backed Government of National Unity (GNU), which aims to unify the country’s divided institutions and oversee the December election as part of the peace process.
Rivals are battling for the facts after the election process collapsed amid disputes over rules, including over the legality of Dabiba’s own candidacy for the presidency, when he promised not to run.
Parliament, which mostly supported Eastern forces during the civil war, has declared the GNU invalid and will vote on Thursday to name a new prime minister to form another government.
Dabibah said in a speech this week that he would hand over power only after the election, and Libya’s adviser to the UN and Western countries have said they will continue to recognize the GNU.
After parliament said this week that there would be no elections this year, and another political body amended the country’s provisional constitution, which had registered many Libyans to vote.
Parliament’s move to elect a new prime minister could return Dabiba to the pre-unity government he was in, with parallel administrations seeking to rule Libya from different cities.
However, analysts say there may not be an immediate return to the civil war.
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