AKIPRESS.COM - Jordan’s ambassador to Libya was kidnapped on Tuesday morning after masked gunmen attacked his car and shot his driver, Asharq Al-Awsat reported referring to a spokesman for Libya’s foreign ministry, Said Laswad.

The driver survived the attack and is in hospital.

The Jordanian foreign ministry believes the incident occurred as Ambassador Fawaz Al-Itan was leaving his house.

Kidnappings have become commonplace in Libya and abductors frequently target foreign officials. Since the start of the year five Egyptian diplomats, a Tunisian official and a South Korean trade official have been abducted.

Libya’s weak government has been unable to disarm former rebels who fought against deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, and parliament has deep internal divisions that further reduce Tripoli’s ability to exert authority. Its prime minister-designate, Abdallah Al-Thinni, resigned on Sunday.