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Middle East and North Africa

Libyan ministry of Interior and air defense troops come down to side of disgraced general

The situation in Libya has escalated on Friday, when the so-called Libyan National Army formed by Hifter went on the offensive in groups of radical Islamists in city of Benghazi

© EPA/MOHAMMED ELSHAIKY

CAIRO , May 21. /ITAR-TASS/. Ministry of Interior Affairs and Air defense Commander supported the retired general Khalifa Hifter in Libya, who announced a large-scale Operation Dignity against radical Islamists. In particular, the agency has decided to join the military campaign against Islamic militants, news agency LANA reported.

The situation in Libya has escalated on Friday, when the so-called Libyan National Army formed by Hifter went on the offensive in groups of radical Islamists in city of Benghazi (1000 kilometers east of Tripoli). Armed groups over the past days were fighting with extremists terrorizing the local population, including the Salafist group Ansar al- Shari'a (Supporters of Sharia), which killed dozens of people.

Temporary leaders of the country’s parliament didn’t like it. The General National Congress Nuri Abu Sahmeynu who enjoys the active support of the Islamists called such actions “coup attempt” and promised to prosecute everyone who was behind it.

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Middle East and North Africa Libya

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