Libyan Presidential Council announced in a statement that an investigation would be launched over Bashagha’s handling of demonstrations and his failure to protect protesters from a violent crackdown.

The Council also assigned the Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry, Brigadier Khaled Ahmed Al-Tijani Mazen, to take over the ministry’s duties, according to the statement.

On Sunday protesters took to the streets in several cities in the west of Libya, including Tripoli, Misrata and al-Zawyia, to protest against deteriorating economic conditions and corruption.

In Tripoli, unidentified men in military camouflage clothing opened fire on the crowd without warning, using AK-style rifles and truck-mounted guns.

According to Amnesty International, at least six protesters were abducted during the same incident. (ILKHA)