Updated

Libya's ousted prime minister has given his first interview since he left the country, saying parliament's dismissal of him was invalid while accusing his Islamist rivals of working against him.

Ali Zidan told private television station Libya Ahrar in an interview aired Saturday that he was advised by allies in the parliament to leave the country after he was voted out of office over concerns about his safety and to avoid getting arrested.

Zidan also said Islamists miscounted the votes to oust him.

Parliament voted Zidan, a secularist, out of office Tuesday. He then left the country for Europe, though it's unclear where he is now. He says he'll only return to Libya when his safety is guaranteed.

His defense minister, Abdullah al-Thinni, was named interim prime minister.