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Crisis deepens in Libya between Islamists and renegade general Crisis deepens in Libya between Islamists and renegade general
(about 1 hour later)
TRIPOLI, Libya — A confrontation between Libya’s Islamist-led parliament and a renegade general who wants to disband it deepened Tuesday as the fractured nation’s interim government sought to weather the worst crisis since the 2011 ouster of Moammar Gaddafi.TRIPOLI, Libya — A confrontation between Libya’s Islamist-led parliament and a renegade general who wants to disband it deepened Tuesday as the fractured nation’s interim government sought to weather the worst crisis since the 2011 ouster of Moammar Gaddafi.
The General National Congress was scheduled to convene Tuesday in an undisclosed location, two days after gunmen commanded by the rogue general stormed the parliament as part of what he said was a drive to curb radical Islamist militias.The General National Congress was scheduled to convene Tuesday in an undisclosed location, two days after gunmen commanded by the rogue general stormed the parliament as part of what he said was a drive to curb radical Islamist militias.
Abdullah al-Gmata, a lawmaker representing an area east of Tripoli, predicted a low turnout for Tuesday’s session and said he did not expect a decision on a government proposal to suspend parliament until the next elections in an effort to de-escalate the crisis.Abdullah al-Gmata, a lawmaker representing an area east of Tripoli, predicted a low turnout for Tuesday’s session and said he did not expect a decision on a government proposal to suspend parliament until the next elections in an effort to de-escalate the crisis.
Ahmed Langhi, a lawmaker from Benghazi, said he was not attending Tuesday’s parliamentary session, preferring to remain in his district and reach out to rival factions on ways to resolve the conflict.Ahmed Langhi, a lawmaker from Benghazi, said he was not attending Tuesday’s parliamentary session, preferring to remain in his district and reach out to rival factions on ways to resolve the conflict.
On Friday, Khalifa Haftar, a former general and Gaddafi opponent who spent years in exile in Northern Virginia, launched an assault on militias in the eastern city of Benghazi that were widely blamed for a campaign of assassinations. At least 70 people were killed dozens injured in the most intensive fighting a brutal civil war culminated three years ago with the capture and summary execution of Gaddafi by rebels. On Friday, Khalifa Hifter, a former general and Gaddafi opponent who spent years in exile in Northern Virginia, launched an assault on militias in the eastern city of Benghazi that were widely blamed for a campaign of assassinations. At least 70 people were killed dozens injured in the most intensive fighting a brutal civil war culminated three years ago with the capture and summary execution of Gaddafi by rebels.
Since the assault, additional militias have thrown their weight behind Haftar, while rival groups have lined up on the side of the Islamists. Since the assault, additional militias have thrown their weight behind Hifter, while rival groups have lined up on the side of the Islamists.
Haftar and his backers have branded their campaign as a war on terrorism, although a complex web of tribal and local interests and shifting allegiances are also coming into play. Ansar al-Sharia, one of the most extreme Islamist groups operating in Benghazi, charged in a statement on its Facebook page Monday night that the offensive was “in reality a war on Islam.” (The former general spelled his name “Hifter” on legal documents in the United States. It has also been rendered in reports from Libya as “Haftar” and “Hiftar.”)
Hifter and his backers have branded their campaign as a war on terrorism, although a complex web of tribal and local interests and shifting allegiances are also coming into play. Ansar al-Sharia, one of the most extreme Islamist groups operating in Benghazi, charged in a statement on its Facebook page Monday night that the offensive was “in reality a war on Islam.”
Meanwhile, residents of Tripoli and Benghazi expect violence to escalate in the coming days.Meanwhile, residents of Tripoli and Benghazi expect violence to escalate in the coming days.
“We’ll see if this forces everyone to talk to each other or to fight each other,” said Mohamed al-Marrabi, a 34-year-old cigarette shop owner in the capital. “I think we are heading toward a bigger fight.”“We’ll see if this forces everyone to talk to each other or to fight each other,” said Mohamed al-Marrabi, a 34-year-old cigarette shop owner in the capital. “I think we are heading toward a bigger fight.”
In Benghazi, residents said they heard clashes late Monday night, including gunfire and explosions, although the city appeared to be quiet Tuesday morning.In Benghazi, residents said they heard clashes late Monday night, including gunfire and explosions, although the city appeared to be quiet Tuesday morning.
“Of course, it will get worse,” said Khalifa Elberkawi, a 19-year-old student at Benghazi University.“Of course, it will get worse,” said Khalifa Elberkawi, a 19-year-old student at Benghazi University.