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| Africa North |
| Libya rebels overrun rogue faction |
| 2011-07-31 |
| A battle between Libya's main opposition and a rogue faction inside the movement's armed forces has raised fears of infighting caused by the yet unexplained murder of one of its chief commanders. Libya's opposition said on Sunday its forces had overrun the base of a pro-regime faction after five hours of fighting near the opposition stronghold Benghazi, according to spokesman Mahmoud Shamam. Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley, reporting from Benghazi, said the battle was launched to subdue elements of Muammar Gaddafi's forces that had been operating as a "fifth column" within the opposition ranks. "According to sources here there is no connection with the attack and the death of [Abdel-Fattah Younes]," said Birtley, who added that documents were found on the defeated faction that linked it to Gaddafi. 'Unity intact' Shamam said fighting broke out early on Sunday and left four dead and six wounded. The main rebel force is now in control of the al-Nidaa Brigade's base on the western outskirts of Benghazi, the de facto capital of Libya's opposition-held east. "It was a long battle and it took many hours because they were heavily armed," he said. "In the end we arrested 31 of them. We lost four people," said Shamam, who added the group of fighters were rounded up for their role in organising a prison break in Benghazi earlier in the week. The fighting followed Thursday's killing of chief rebel commander Younes under mysterious circumstances. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #2 Ah, well. Every revolutionary movement has its cleansing moments. Decades, not years. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2011-07-31 16:50 |
| #1 ROTFML |
| Posted by: Gromdaffy 2011-07-31 13:01 |