Dubai: Armed men have kidnapped Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan from a luxury hotel in Tripoli where he resides, according to a government official.

The confirmation came after Abu Dhabi-based Sky News Arabia quoted Libyan security sources as saying that Zeidan was seized from the Corinthia hotel and taken to an unknown destination. Dubai-based al-Arabiya carried a similar report.

Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan ... has reportedly been kidnapped by rebels. Credit:AFP

The abduction early on Thursday comes amid anger among Libya’s powerful Islamic militant groups over the US special forces raid on Saturday that seized a Libyan al-Qaeda suspect, known as Abu Anas al-Libi. Several groups accused the government of colluding in or allowing the raid, though the government denied having any prior knowledge of the operation.

Hours before the abduction, Zeidan had met with al-Libi’s family late Wednesday. The government official said gunmen broke into the luxury hotel where Zeidan lived and abducted him and two of his guards.