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| Africa North |
| Gaem gives Hafter 48 hours to quit Benghazi and hand over to Bukhamada |
| 2017-11-12 |
| [Libya Herald] Government of National Accord (GNA) deputy interior minister Faraj al-Gaem tonight said armed forces commander-in-chief Khalifa Hafter should be replaced by Saiqa Special Forces ...Libya's elite army unit, insofar as they have one, formed from a mixture of paratroopers and commandos. The group emerged from a militia with the same name in 2010. It now numbers a few thousand and reports to the Ministry of Defence. It deployed in Benghazi in an attempt to control the carnage. As a result, it has been attacked and several of its officers murdered. The force is popular in Benghazi for its stance against Ansar al-Sharia group... commander Wanis Bukhamada and quit Benghazi. Earlier today two of Gaem’s guards were killed and five were maimed when four mortar bombs hit the interior ministry building in Benghazi’s Budzira district. Gaem himself was not hurt. Five days ago he had survived a car kaboom on his convoy as it drove through the Sid Khalifa district. In a ’phone call this evening to TV station Libya 218 Gaem said that Hafter had tried to assassinate him. He gave Hafter and his sons 48 hours to leave Benghazi and hand over his command to Bukhamada. Posts and footage also emerged this afternoon on social media, apparently from members of Gaem’s Awagir tribe, threatening to attack Hafter and his relatives. A Saiqa Special Forces front man, Miloud Azawi, said after the broadcast that Saiqa would not be involved in the dispute. Benghazi military governor Major-General Abdul Razzak al-Nazhuri is expected to make a statement shortly. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 tough talk from a guy who's fled to Marj |
| Posted by: Frank G 2017-11-12 10:35 |