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| Africa North |
| Libya Islamists Press Advance on Key Oil Region |
| 2014-12-15 |
| [AnNahar] Islamist fighters clashed with pro-government forces for the second consecutive day Sunday as they pressed an advance on a key oil region in eastern Libya, sources on both sides reported. Separately, at least four Fajr Libya holy warriors were killed and 10 maimed in an air strike by pro-government forces near the Ras Jedir border crossing with Tunisia, a military source said. Fajr Libya, an anti-government coalition of Islamist militias, said its men were advancing on al-Sidra oil terminal in al-Hilal region, which is also home to the Ras Lanuf and Brega terminals. A news agency linked to the group quoted Islamist commander Tareq Shanina as saying his men "advanced toward al-Sidra" and were coming under air attack from pro-government forces. Shanina said Fajr Libya fired anti-aircraft guns in response. An official with a unit guarding oil installations said festivities were underway around al-Sidra, Libya's largest oil terminal. On Saturday, Fajr Libya launched a three-pronged attack to seize control of al-Hilal but pro-government forces backed by air force jets and helicopters repelled the assault. The air raids were followed by festivities on the ground that tapered off in the evening only to resume again Sunday. There were no immediate reports of casualties from Sunday's fighting. On Saturday five government soldiers were maimed and Fajr Libya reporting that two of its fighters had been killed. The source, who declined to be named, said the raid was carried out by forces loyal to anti-Islamist ex-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... who is fighting to crush Islamists who control swathes of Libya. More than three years after strongman Muammar Qadaffy ...Custodian of Wheelus AFB for 42 long years until he was ejected from the gene pool by his indignant citizens... was toppled and killed in a NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A single organization with differing goals, equipment, language, doctrine, and organization.... -backed revolt, Libya is still awash with weapons and powerful militias, and has rival parliaments as well as governments. Islamists have seized 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... and second city Benghazi in the east, and forces loyal to international recognized Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani are fighting to regain control of them. On Sunday, seven cop shoppes closed five months ago during fighting between Islamists and Haftar's forces reopened in Benghazi, a front man for security forces told Agence La Belle France-Presse. First Lieutenant Tareq al-Kharraz said other facilities would be relocated from areas of Benghazi that are still under Islamist control to those where pro-government forces are deployed. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |