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NTC Fighters Clash with Al Qathafi Supporters in Tripoli
[Tripoli Post] The Libyan capital Friday has witnessed a shootout between 30-50 armed fighters supporters to the former Libyan dictator Muammar Al Qadaffy...Custodian of Wheelus AFB for 42 long years... who witnesses say appeared in the Abu Salim neighbourhood - an area known for its support for the former regime - and National Transitional Council fighters. Witnesses on the scene told Rooters that NTC fighters mounted on pick-up trucks raced towards the scene of fighting in the Hay Nasr district of the Abu Salim area and exchanged automatic and heavy machine-gun fire with the loyalists who were chanting pro-Al Qadaffy slogans. On arrival they shot up the buildings, fearing snipers were inside, and also began to set up checkpoints. According to one of the NTC fighters, there Al Qadaffy supporters were invited to fight by a message delivered by the runaway leader in which he told them to to rise up after Friday prayers. "That is why these people came out of their homes to and cause this problem," he said. Assem al-Bashir, a fighter with Tripoli's Eagle Brigade, was reported telling Al Jizz that the shooting began after a man was spotted raising the green flag that symbolised the regime of the deposed leader. ousted regime. After that gunfire was heard across the city in the first serious burst of violence in the capital since the NTC forces seized control of Tripoli in late August and forced Al Qadaffy into hiding. NTC fighters said fighting had also broken out in the nearby Hadhba neighbourhood. Al Qadaffy has released a number of audio recordings calling on loyalists to fight the interim government that ousted him from power after 42 years of rule. In his latest message a few days ago he urged "all Libyan people to go out and march in their millions in all the squares, in all the cities and villages and oases." He had added in his message: "Go peacefully ... be courageous, rise up, go to the streets, raise our green flags to the skies." Posted by: Fred 2011-10-15 |
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