Angry protesters from Bani Walid town blocked on Wednesday the convoy of the Minister of Education of Presidential Council, Othman Abdul-Jalil, and ordered him and his escorts to go back to Tripoli, local sources reported.

The sources said that the protesters fired gunshots at the convoy to prevent them from entering the town for unknown reasons.

Minister Othman confirmed the shooting, indicating that he and his escorts have escaped unhurt.

“I decided to stay on the outskirts of the town until situations get calm,” the minister said on the ministry’s official Facebook page, stressing that the shooting incident was accidental by some youth and does not represent the people of the town.

The minster noted that he will stay on the outskirts until the evening to give time to the town’s elders and social and security officials to contain the situation and allow him to proceed with his visit.

Minister Othman was scheduled to meet with the education monitors of the central region in Bani Walid to review the educational process in the cities and towns of the region.

Bani Walid is located some 180 km southeast of Tripoli. It’s still loyal to the deposed regime of Gaddafi.

Minister Othman praised the town and expressed hope that this incident will not brand it as “a rejecter to the Government of National Accord.”