About 200 armed men have surrounded the Foreign Ministry building in the Libyan capital Tripoli, demanding reform.

According to Libyan military official Esam al-Naas, nearly 40 trucks armed with machineguns and anti-aircraft guns surrounded the ministry, on Sunday.

The armed men have demanded the foreign ministry to ban remnants of the former regime of Muammar Gaddafi from holding key posts and to hire those who helped oust the long-time ruler.

The group of armed men prevented the ministry’s employees from entering the building, paralyzing work for the day.

The Libyan official says that negotiations between the armed men and officials are underway.

This comes as Libya’s General National Congress is opting for a law to exclude officials from the former regime from taking top government and political posts.

The law could affect a number of senior figures in the government.

Libyans rose up against Gaddafi’s four-decade rule in February 2011 and deposed him in August 2011. The long-time dictator was killed on October 20 of the same year.