Libya’s defence minister has withdrawn his resignation offer, only hours after stating he was stepping down.

Mohammed al-Barghathi said on 7 May that he going to stand down as a result of recent attacks by armed groups on buildings of the justice and foreign ministries. But after consulting Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, Barghati withdrew his offer to resign.

Militias besieged the headquarters of Libya’s Justice Ministry in Tripoli on 30 April demanding the government pass a law banning Gaddafi-era officials from working in official posts.

Armed men arrived in trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns, blockading the ministry building in the Falah district of Tripoli, the local English language Libya Herald reported. They had previously attacked the Finance Ministry building.

Al-Barghathi was appointed as defence minister in November last year.