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Libyans surrender hundreds of weapons to army
 [Daily Nation (Kenya)] Libyans turned over hundreds of weapons at collection points in the capital and the eastern city of Benghazi on Saturday following rallies which called for disarmament and the disbanding of militias.A steady stream of men surrendered their weapons to national army troops stationed in Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of thich is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... 's Martyrs Square and in Benghazi's Freedom Square, AFP journalists reported. "This is the first drive and it won't be the last," army front man Ali al-Sheikhi told AFP in reference to the campaign launched by the army in partnership with civil society organizations. Colonel Hussein Abdullah Khalifa, overseeing the collection of weapons in Tripoli, said the initiative was galvanised by anti-militia rallies pressing for a united army which were held in Libya's two largest cities this month. "We are astonished by the positive turn out," he said. Tripoli campaign organiser Ziad Hadia told AFP that hundreds of people turned in "light, medium and heavy weapons as well as vast amounts of ammunition ranging from bullets to tank shells." Most people handed in assault rifles, he said. "We also received six heat-seeking missiles," added Hadia, while one person had come forward with a tank which is to be delivered to the army later at In Benghazi, the army tallied some 730 light weapons, 200 hand grenades, 100 anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, along with 20,000 assorted ammunition, an AFP journalist said. Posted by: Fred 2012-09-30 |
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