Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah escaped unharmed when shots hit his car overnight Wednesday, a source close to him said, calling it a clear assassination attempt, Reuters reports.
The source, who sought anonymity, said Dbeibah had been returning home when shots were fired from another vehicle that fled, and the incident had been referred to the prosecutor general for investigation.
Such an attempt, if confirmed, would aggravate the crisis over control of Libya, where Dbeibah has said he will ignore a vote scheduled by the eastern-based parliament later on Thursday to replace him.
Dbeibah was installed in March as head of the UN-backed Government of National Unity (GNU) that was meant to oversee the run-up to an election in December.
Rival factions have been jostling for position after the election process fell apart amid disputes over the rules, such as the legitimacy of Dbeibah's own candidacy for president after he pledged not to run.
The parliament, which mostly backed eastern forces during the civil war, has declared the GNU invalid and will hold a vote on Thursday to name a new Prime Minister.
The UN's Libya adviser and Western countries have said they continue to recognize the GNU and have urged Libyan political institutions to instead focus on holding elections.
Libya has been in chaos since the NATO-backed ouster of former leader Muammar Qaddafi, who was captured and killed in 2011.
The Islamic State (ISIS) has capitalized on the disarray and spread the group's influence into the north African nation, establishing a stronghold in Sirte, Qaddafi’s hometown.