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Middle East and North Africa

Former revolutionaries open fire on demonstrators in Tripoli

Three dead, over 30 injured

© EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA

CAIRO, November 15. (ITAR-TASS) – Three people died and over 30 were injured in Libyan capital on Friday, when armed militia militants opened fire on a rally. The figures come from representatives of local hospitals which currently admit victims.

After a Friday prayer hundreds of locals have organized a rally and marched to Gargur District, which is controlled by former rebels of Misrata (a city located 200 kilometers to the East of Tripoli). The protestors, which attempted to reach the headquarters of anti-Gaddafi insurgents, demanded their vacating Tripoli and returning to their home city.

Former revolutionaries first blocked the path of the demonstrators and fired several warning shots into the air; however, they soon started to shoot to kill.

Two years after the success of the so-called “February 17 revolution” and conclusion of the civil war which lead to overthrow and death of Muammar Gaddafi, the new government of Libya, despite its attempts, has proven to be unable to bring order to the country. Groups of former insurgents, including radical Islamists continue to operate on their own, not recognizing Tripoli’s authority and imposing own laws in areas which they control.

After Gaddafi’s regime toppled, interim government entrusted several of such groups with guarding national borders, prisons and sensitive infrastructure facilities; for this job they are getting paid. This led to pro-West opposition militants becoming virtually legitimate. Having access to weapons stockpiles and feeling immune from the law, they refuse to give up weapons and take orders only from their warlords. Many claim that “revolution is not over” and plan to continue fighting to the bitter end.

The latest incident illustrating this situation happened October 10 in Tripoli, when insurgents kidnapped Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, claiming they had an order from the Prosecutor General’s office.

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