BBC News Middle East

AFPCopyright: AFP

Libya faces a new power struggle after the country’s eastern-based parliament appointed a second interim prime minister.

Formerly serving as interior minister, Fathi Bashagha has been approved by the House of Representatives in his new post and it means he now rivals the existing head of the unity government, Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah.

Late on Thursday Mr Bashagha flew to the capital, Tripoli, promising to "open a new chapter" in Libyan politics.

The announcement came just hours after Mr Dbeibah's convoy was targeted in a drive-by shooting.

The appointment of Mr Bashagha is likely to deepen divisions between the eastern-based assembly and the Tripoli administration - raising the risks of more violence as Libya awaits postponed elections.

AFPCopyright: AFP

The Moroccan authorities have decided to survey all abandoned wells across the country after a trapped young boy died in a valiant but unsuccessful rescue attempt last week.

Rayan's plight at the bottom of a narrow 32m ((104ft) deep borehole gripped millions in Morocco and beyond.

A water ministry official, Abdelaziz Zerouali, said the survey was designed to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.

He said those who dug wells that flouted regulations would be required to pay to make them safe.

He added that more than 1,000 Moroccans a year were already being punished for illegal drilling.

Spanish police say they have busted a maritime drug-running operation that allegedly faked sailing boat accidents, including one with a killer whale, to smuggle hashish from Morocco.

They said drugs were loaded on to yachts which simulated difficulties that required the boats to be towed into a Spanish port, where the drugs would be unloaded clandestinely.

The police said that in one incident last year, the gang said their boat had been attacked by an orca, apparently using the deception to throw the authorities off their unusual manoeuvres at sea.

Two people have been arrested and more than 170kg (375lbs) of drugs seized.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Parliament in war-torn Libya has unanimously approved a new interim prime minister in a move that threatens to spark a new power struggle in the country as there already is someone else who holds that position.

Rival factions have been vying for control: the parliament is based in the east of the country and a government of national unity sits in the capital, Tripoli.

The appointment by MPs of Fathi Bashagha - a former interior minister - will be a direct challenge to Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah's administration.

Mr Dbeibah was chosen as prime minister last year in a UN-backed process. But parliament believes his mandate has expired as he was supposed to handover after an election in December. That poll however was postponed and Mr Dbeibah vowed to stay on until the vote takes place.

Parliament, though, sees things differently.

The delayed election is a key part of a UN-backed political roadmap aimed at ending years of violence and instability.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Dbeibah escaped an apparent assassination attempt when his car was hit by several bullets in Tripoli.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah has survived an apparent assassination attempt by unknown assailants.

Several rounds struck his car as it was being driven through the capital, Tripoli, early on Thursday.

The gunmen fled the scene.

Rival factions have been vying for control of Libya, and a parliament based in the east of the country is to vote later on Thursday on a replacement prime minister for a government of national unity.

Mr Dbeibah has said he will ignore the outcome of the ballot.

An election to choose a new government was postponed last December but no vote is now expected this year

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The Judges Association in Tunisia has called for all courts to suspend work on Wednesday and Thursday in protest at President Kaïs Saïed's move to dissolve the Supreme Judicial Council.

On its Facebook page, the organisation also called for a protest on Thursday in front of the council building, which was closed after President Saïed's order.

Ambassadors to Tunisia from the G7 group of nations have expressed their deep concern, saying that an independent judiciary is essential to democracy.

Supporters of the president have welcomed his moves to rid the country of a system they see as corrupt.

More on this story:

• Tunisia judges locked out of their offices after president's decree
• Democrats, despots and the fight for power

EPACopyright: EPA

The head of Tunisia's Supreme Judicial Council says police have locked the doors of their office and have stopped the judges from entering the building - a day after President Kais Saied dissolved the country's main legal body.

Judge Youssef Bouzakher said on Sunday that the dissolution of the council was illegal and that his staff would carry on overseeing an independent judiciary.

President Saied says he is trying to rid the country of corruption and reset the 2011 revolution.

But his moves have raised fears among civil society groups who see this as the latest step in his consolidation of power.

Read more on this story:

• Tunisia judges: Top legal body turns against president

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The Tunisian navy say's it has rescued over 160 migrants at sea – most of them Tunisian.

The rescue took place off the coast near Sfax in the south-east.

The migrants – including young children – were attempting to reach Italy.

Last year more than 55,000 migrants made the crossing from Tunisia or neighbouring Libya, almost double the total of the year before.

Football fans in Senegal celebrated overnight the country's first Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament win on Sunday.

Videos of people dancing while holding the country's flag were shared online:

The excitement was evident in entertainment spots:

On the streets, people celebrated the win in style:

Senegal beat Egypt 4-2 on penalties to clinch their first Afcon win after two previous final defeats.

Coach Aliou Cissé, who as a player missed a crucial penalty in the 2002 final defeat and was the coach when the team was defeated in the finals three years ago, was praised online:

Senegal and Egypt will meet again next month in a play-off for a spot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.