About 200 armed men are surrounding the Foreign Ministry building in Tripoli, demanding the ministry to reform and hire former fighters who helped overthrow former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, according to a Libyan military official.

Esam al-Naas said 38 trucks, some mounted with machine guns, had surrounded the ministry on Sunday.

The men claim that many supporters of the old regime are still occupying senior positions in the ministry and its missions abroad.

He said negotiations with the protesters are under way and that no-one has entered the ministry building.

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