The source who sought anonymity, said the prime minister was on his way back home while some anonymous attackers confronted his car with bullets and fled.

The incident had been referred to the general prosecutor to open an investigation.

The assassination attempt comes after the tension Libya’s capital Tripoli has been living in the past week, as armed forces have mobilized more fighters and equipment raising fears of fighting due to the political crisis.

Dbeibah has repeatedly said he and his government would remain in power until “real elections'' are held. He has also called for the vote to be held based on a newly drafted constitution.

Dbeibah was named prime minister in February last year and his government's main task was to steer the deeply divided country toward national reconciliation and lead it through elections.

Holding the election is still the lynchpin of international efforts to bring peace to the oil-rich North African nation.

Libya has been wracked by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled then killed longtime leader Muammar Gadhafi in 2011.

The country had for years split between rival administrations in the east and the west.