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| Libyan national congress attacked by rogue militias | Libyan national congress attacked by rogue militias |
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| Police and army units have been deployed in strength across the Libyan capital after an attack by rogue militias forced the country's legislature to consider suspending its activities. | |
| Several hundred militiamen and protesters attacked the national congress building late on Tuesday night and the car of Speaker Mohammed Magarief, who is effectively Libya's acting head of state, was hit by more than a dozen bullets. | Several hundred militiamen and protesters attacked the national congress building late on Tuesday night and the car of Speaker Mohammed Magarief, who is effectively Libya's acting head of state, was hit by more than a dozen bullets. |
| "We might suspend our work until we find a solution, we've been attacked," said Mohammed Toumi, an independent congress member. | "We might suspend our work until we find a solution, we've been attacked," said Mohammed Toumi, an independent congress member. |
| The attacks were launched by supporters of a proposed bill, the isolation law, that would purge Gaddafi-era officials from public office, with demonstrators fearing the law would be watered down by the 200-member congress. | The attacks were launched by supporters of a proposed bill, the isolation law, that would purge Gaddafi-era officials from public office, with demonstrators fearing the law would be watered down by the 200-member congress. |
| Security fears saw congress move its session on Tuesday to the Meteorological Institute south of the city in a bid to avoid violent protests which erupted as members arrived to debate the bill. | Security fears saw congress move its session on Tuesday to the Meteorological Institute south of the city in a bid to avoid violent protests which erupted as members arrived to debate the bill. |
| Militias surrounded the building, attacking at least one MP, while several female members barricaded themselves inside. | Militias surrounded the building, attacking at least one MP, while several female members barricaded themselves inside. |
| State media released photographs showing Magarief's bullet-riddled armoured Land Cruiser, with five bullet holes visible in the bulletproof glass of the rear window. | State media released photographs showing Magarief's bullet-riddled armoured Land Cruiser, with five bullet holes visible in the bulletproof glass of the rear window. |
| "There's no army protecting us, there's no police protecting us, the ministries didn't do anything to protect us, we cannot work in this environment," said Toumi, who chaired the isolation law committee but has resigned citing security fears. | "There's no army protecting us, there's no police protecting us, the ministries didn't do anything to protect us, we cannot work in this environment," said Toumi, who chaired the isolation law committee but has resigned citing security fears. |
| The British embassy issued a statement calling for better security: "These people were chosen to represent Libya and it is important to give them space and security so they may make their decisions," it said. | The British embassy issued a statement calling for better security: "These people were chosen to represent Libya and it is important to give them space and security so they may make their decisions," it said. |
| Libya's government, which relies on militias for the bulk of its forces, has yet to explain why security units did not protect congress, or its failure to guarantee that a new vote planned for the bill on Sunday will get that protection. | Libya's government, which relies on militias for the bulk of its forces, has yet to explain why security units did not protect congress, or its failure to guarantee that a new vote planned for the bill on Sunday will get that protection. |
| On Thursday a dozen beige armed pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns were deployed around the office of the prime minister, Ali Zaidan, with similar numbers at the city centre Corinthian hotel, home to many diplomats. | On Thursday a dozen beige armed pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns were deployed around the office of the prime minister, Ali Zaidan, with similar numbers at the city centre Corinthian hotel, home to many diplomats. |
| The isolation law is proving the most divisive issue debated by congress since it was elected in July last year. The terms of the law would ban a swath of former Gaddafi officials from the government, civil service, police, judiciary and banking. | The isolation law is proving the most divisive issue debated by congress since it was elected in July last year. The terms of the law would ban a swath of former Gaddafi officials from the government, civil service, police, judiciary and banking. |