Libya Orders Islamist Militias to Oppose Rogue General
Source: Associated Press
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Libya's army chief has ordered the deployment of Islamist-led militias to the capital, a day after the storming of the parliament building in Tripoli by a renegade general's troops.
Monday's development paves way for a possible showdown between the militias — which hail from Libya's western and central regions — and the anti-Islamist troops allied with Gen. Khalifa Hifter, who staged the parliament attack Sunday and said they suspended the Islamist-dominated house, blaming it for empowering Islamic extremists.
According to a statement posted on the official Facebook page of Libya's Chief of Staff media office, Nouri Abu Sahmain signed an order to "Libya's Central Shield" — an umbrella group of powerful militias — to confront "attempts to take over power" in Tripoli.
Sunday's move against parliament appeared to be directly challenging the legitimacy of the country's weak central government three years after the overthrow of dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Libya's leadership condemned the attack and vowed to carry on.
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Much more at the link.
Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/05/18/renegade-libyan-general-says-parliament-suspended/9260289/
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seveneyes
(4,631 posts)Maybe worse if they get the Sharia law they want. Good luck to the General and the decent people desiring freedom from that nonsense.
pampango
(24,692 posts)He initially fought for Muammar Gaddafi, then against him. He fought alongside Islamist rebel groups in the uprising that toppled Gaddafi in 2011 before becoming their nemesis this year.
Gaddafi rewarded his loyalty by giving him overall command of the conflict with Chad. This proved to be his downfall, as Libya was famously defeated by a ramshackle but determined Chadian force in what came to be known as the Toyota War.
Like many exiled Libyans, Gen Haftar returned to his country during the uprising against Gaddafi. Because of his military experience, he quickly became one of the main commanders of Libya's makeshift rebel force in the East. But many rebels were openly suspicious of his involvement, because of his history in Chad and his US connections.
After Gaddafi's downfall, Mr Haftar appeared to have faded into relative obscurity, like other former regime figures who joined the revolution. That remained the case until February 2014, when TV channels posted a video of him outlining his plan to save the nation and calling on Libyans to rise up against the elected parliament, the General National Congress (GNC). Precisely nothing happened. Instead, Mr Haftar was largely viewed as a laughing stock for his dramatic announcement of a coup that never was.
His criticism of the GNC will chime with many Libyans who are frustrated with the slow pace of political transition and the merry-go-round of prime ministers (of whom there have been three since March alone). However, many are also tired with the use of violence to settle political disputes and would rather wait until a new parliament is voted in. That is scheduled to happen in June, although the current unrest may cause the deadline to slip.
As Mr Sisi did after ousting President Mohammed Morsi last July, Gen Haftar has denied harbouring any political ambitions.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27492354
