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| Africa North |
| Libya army supports ex-general bid to retake Benghazi |
| 2014-10-16 |
| [Iran Press TV] The Libyan army has declared support for forces loyal to retired General Khalifa Haftar ... served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all... as rival turban groups continue to battle for control over the eastern city of Benghazi. Libyan army front man, Colonel Ahmed al-Mesmari, said the military has thrown its weight behind Haftar's four-month-old campaign, dubbed 'Operation Dignity', in order to retake Benghazi from other gangs. The announcement came a day after Haftar's forces resumed major attacks to oust other turban groups from Benghazi. He also called on the locals to rise up against the "terrorists." At least a dozen people have been killed and 10 others maimed, including three soldiers, and a man and his three children, in renewed festivities for control of the eastern city. Meanwhile, ...back at the game, the Babe headed for second base. He almost made it. Then Sheila slapped him.... a militia commander said his fighters took control of a military camp and tanks from Haftar's forces after a bombing attack at the camp gates. However, if you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning... the claim has been rejected by a security source close to Haftar. Benghazi has been a war zone since May, when Haftar declared war on the militia groups. Forces loyal to Haftar have been unsuccessful in fighting the rival gangs and have recently lost most of their bases in Benghazi. Currently, they just have Benghazi's Benina International Airport and its surrounding areas under their control. |
| Posted by:Fred |