Libya clashes continue with hundreds killed

Published Tuesday, February 21, 2012

 

"Libya's leader acknowledged that his transitional government
has little power to control the militias,
which do not trust the central government."
But his Nato masters have full contol on oil

 

Violence in Libya's remote southeastern region intensified on Tuesday, with the government promising to intervene if the clashes between rival tribes continue.

Fighting broke out about 10 days ago in the city of Al Kufra over control of the region, highlighting the challenge of policing the sparsely populated desert.

Over 100 people have been killed, tribal leaders and NGOs estimate.

At least 113 people from the Toubu tribe and another 20 from the Zwai tribe have died since February 12, Toubu chief Issa Abdelmajid said.

A Red Crescent worker said more than 50 civilians were killed in the past 24 hours.

"We are under siege since a week. Since the start of the clashes, 113 people [from our side] have been killed, including six children," Abdelmajid said.

The violence comes as Libya's ruling National Transitional Council is struggling to assert its authority across Libya following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in a Western-backed uprising.

The head of the military said the government would not hesitate to intervene if the violence continued.
Speaking to Reuters, armed forces chief Yousef al-Mangoush said an agreement between the two sides had been reached on Sunday, but further "more intense" clashes took place on Monday.

"The Defense Ministry and the army are warning that if the fighting does not stop, there will be decisive military intervention to put an end to the clashes," he said.

No trust

Libya's leader acknowledged on Tuesday that his transitional government has little power to control the militias, which do not trust the central government.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil warned that remnants of the former regime still pose a threat and said it will take years for Libya's new leaders to overcome a "heavy heritage" of corruption.

Abdul-Jalil said the governing National Transitional Council had made mistakes, but also criticized former rebels who have formed powerful militias that have emerged as rivals to the Tripoli-based government.

"The governmental program to integrate the militias is slow and the revolutionaries don't trust it," he admitted.

Gaddafi was overthrown in August last year by rebel groups following a three-month NATO bombing campaign.

(Al-Akhbar, AFP, Reuters)

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