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Militias stream into Libyan capital, Tripoli
[Iran Press TV] Libya's militia forces have poured into the capital, Tripoli...a confusing city, one end of which 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... , amid a standoff with forces loyal to renegade General Khalifa Haftar. The militias, known as Libya Central Shield, are composed of groups from the northwestern city of Misrata, and are under the command of the country's chief of staff, who answers to parliament. A power struggle has broken out between rival bad boy groups who are flexing muscles against each other in the capital Tripoli. On Thursday, Libya's government called on all forces of Evil in Tripoli to withdraw from the city. The government has also proposed an initiative to save the country from plunging into civil war. In an open letter published on the government's website, Tripoli called on the parliament to "take a recess after the vote on the 2014 budget and until new parliamentary elections" are held within three months. On Sunday, forces loyal to Haftar stormed the parliament building in the heart of Tripoli. They also launched an air operation against bad boy hideouts in Benghazi on May 16. Libyan authorities accused Haftar of trying to mount a coup. In a joint statement released on May 17, the army, government and parliament warned that the May 16 raid is considered "an action outside state legitimacy and a coup d'état." Posted by: Fred 2014-05-23 |
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