You have commented 338 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Africa North
Saiqa Force fighters block main roads in Benghazi as telecom network goes offline
2018-03-07
[Libya Observer] Gunmen from Saiqa Force blocked a number of main roads in east and west Benghazi including airport road, in addition to burning tires in areas blocked since Monday, eyewitnesses reported.

The reasons for the riots by Saiqa Force are not known yet, however, some sources said they are likely in protest of the detention of some Saiqa leaders such as Mahmoud al-Werfalli, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, or the news about placing Saiqa commander Wanis Bukhamada under house arrest.

Meanwhile,
...back at the abandoned silver mine, the water was up to Jack's neck and still rising. And then he smelled the smoke...
pro-Haftar Tariq Bin Ziyad Brigade conducted detentions of many Saiqa fighters on Monday, especially those who were part of the riots against Haftar lately.

Telecommunications went down in Benghazi after the detentions campaign and residents believe that the move is connected to the protests as such an act has been reported more than once over protests or bombings.

In the meantime, Saiqa Force, security operations room and Haftar's general command did not issue any official clarification for the incident or the loss of telecom signals.

This is the third time button men loyal to Dignity Operation block Benghazi roads as on February 07 they closed the streets and burnt tires calling for the release of al-Werfalli, who then handed himself over to Haftar's command in al-Marij town for investigation into his war crimes.

On February 19, gang in Benghazi also closed the roads in south and east of the city and eyewitnesses said the protesters - civilians and Saiqa Force fighters - held slogans against Haftar in protest of the dismissal of Wanis Bukhamada from his post as the commander of military operations room in Benghazi.

Haftar sacked Bukhamada in mid-February and appointed Abdelrazik al-Nathori - the now chief of staff - in his place, with a statement by Saiqa Force front man justifying the move as appointing Bukhamada in Derna frontline, where a number of Saiqa Force brigades were tasked to go.

Posted by:Fred

00:00