Tripoli Libya’s armed forces gave militias 48 hours to withdraw from government installations in and around the capital that they occupied after last year’s uprising, while two groups announced they were disbanding after weekend protests against them.
The ultimatum issued late on Saturday by the military said authorities would use force if needed to back their mission, the state-run Libyan news agency LNA reported. The agency also said the Ansar Al Sharia brigade — linked by Libyan authorities to the attack on the US consulate in Libya — and the Abu Salim brigade in the city of Derna, east of Benghazi, announced they would disband “in response to the demands of protesters calling for the dissolution of armed groups.”
The authorities also decided to put in place an “operations room” in Benghazi bringing together the army, forces of the interior ministry and defence ministry brigades comprising former rebels.
And they called on the army to impose its authority by putting its own officers at the head of brigades born out of the 2011 revolt, which escalated into civil war and toppled the Gaddafi regime.
The new authorities have not been able to disband these civilians turned fighters though many of their units have joined the ministry of interior or ministry of defence.
The decree, in tandem with mass protests against militias in Benghazi, the country’s second largest city, reflect a push by Libyan authorities to boost security after last year’s ouster and killing of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi created a security vacuum that has yet to be filled.
Tensions in Benghazi have risen since the September 11 attack on the US consulate and a second site that left US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other people dead. Prime Minister-elect Mustafa Abu Shaghour said September 20 that eight Libyan nationals were arrested in connection with the consulate assault and Ansar Al Sharia was one of the groups thought to be involved.
Key Role
Eleven people were killed during fighting in Benghazi as unarmed protesters sought to drive the Ansar Al Sharia from its base there. More than 70 were injured in the clashes, LNA said, citing health officials. In a separate report, the agency said five corpses of National Army members were found in Benghazi.
Many of the militias, which played a key role in the 2011 uprising, took over military bases. Some also took over government installations such as Tripoli’s airport. Authorities have been able to regain control of the airport, though other facilities including some hospitals are guarded by militias.
