Libya's prime minister kidnapped by rebels

Libya’s Prime Minister Ali Zeidan was kidnapped at dawn on Thursday by armed rebels and taken to an unknown location, the government said.

"The head of the transitional government, Ali Zeidan, was taken to an unknown destination for unknown reasons by a group" of men believed to be former rebels, the government said in a brief statement on its website.

Zeidan's office initially called the abduction a "rumor" on its official Facebook page. Then it posted a note that said it was "coerced by kidnappers to deny the report", according to CNN.

Image: Libya's Prime Minister Ali Zeidan speaks during a news conference in Tripoli

Photograph: Ismail Zitouny/Reuters