But that night he seemed unsteady.
“Do you think I’m committing suicide?” Hiftar asked his new friend and supporter, businessman Fathallah Bin Ali, as they dined in the eastern city of Benghazi.
Today, Hiftar, 71, is leading what may be the most serious challenge to the Libyan government since the overthrow of Moammar Gaddafi in 2011. Attacks by Hiftar’s forces on rival militias in Benghazi and Tripoli in recent days have left more than 70 people dead and dozens more injured. Militiamen loyal to him have overrun parliament.
Libya may now be sliding into civil war. On Monday, additional militias threw their weight behind Hiftar, including those at an air force base in the far-eastern city of Tobruk, fighters who have occupied swaths of the country’s oil infrastructure, and members of an important Benghazi militia. Meanwhile, fighters from the powerful city-state of Misurata said they would soon move on Tripoli to counter Hiftar’s assault.
Hiftar had plotted his operation for months, friends say. His goal is to rid the country of the Islamist militias that he accuses of terrorizing the country, assassinating and kidnapping their political rivals, in the three years since they all fought on the same side to oust a dictator...................... http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/rival-militias-prepare-for-showdown-in-tripoli-after-takeover-of-parliament/2014/05/19/cb36acc2-df6f-11e3-810f-764fe508b82d_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage
19/5/14
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Libya’s army units join rogue general Haftar....
ReplyDeleteSeveral Libyan military units, including a special force, a second air base and Benghazi's naval base, announced on Monday joining the forces of a rogue general against militant Islamists, highlighting the failure of central government in Tripoli to assert its authority.
“We are joining the “operation of dignity” launched by the Libyan National Army with all our men and weapons,” said Colonel Wanis Abu Khamada, of the name given to the operation launched by rogue General Khalifa Haftar.
“The battle will continue until terrorism is eradicated,” added Abu Khamada, who is widely respected in Libya, especially in Benghazi..................http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/05/19/Libya-in-turmoil-as-violence-sweeps-across-cities.html
19/5/14