[Libya Herald] Armed men are reported to have stormed the General National Congress (GNC) in 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...
this afternoon as it met to discuss acceptance of the amended Libya Dialogue Draft and to propose names for the posts of prime minister and deputy prime minister.
Heavy gunfire was heard across town. It is reported, but unconfirmed, that those behind the attack are Dialogue opponent Salah Badi
...a Misrata militia commander, self-appointed colonel and a member of the Wafa Islamist bloc. He was cashiered from the Libyan army in 1992 because he was nuts...
, Sami Saadi, and Abdurraouf Al-Manaie.
At the time of writing, it was not known whether the session had been abandoned or not. There are, however, reports, also unconfirmed, that at least one member has been seized. He is said be Abdulgassem Gzeit, a prominent support of the Dialogue.
Misrata's Haboos brigade is said have been ordered to go and protect the GNC.
Earlier, as if in anticipation of a possible attack from opponents of a deal, military vehicles had surrounded the GNC building in Tripoli today with roads closed off to the public.
Although UN Special Envoy Bernardino Leon has amended the Dialogue Draft in line with all the demands presented by the GNC, there are voices within and outside the GNC still opposed to the deal. These include not only Badi, Saadi and Al-Manaie (who has threatened legal action against anyone who approves it) but also GNC president Nuri Abu Sahmain and the controversial Grand Mufti Sheikh Sadek Al-Gharian.
They all insist Leon accept that the GNC is Libya's sole legitimate legislature. Ghariani was reported yesterday saying that forces must rally to the GNC, that it was the only legislature and that the Dialogue deal must be rejected.
Leon had given the GNC delegates until yesterday to return with approval and with their list of candidates.
Meanwhile the House of Representatives (HoR) Dialogue team is seen as split over the amended Draft. The HoR has rejected the changes, calling back its delegates to Tobruk, and is to debate the matter on Sunday. Two have returned, Sadiq Idris Mohammed and Saleh Huma. However,
Caliphornia hasn't yet slid into the ocean, no matter how hard it's tried...
Emhemed Shouaib, the Deputy President of HoR and head of the team and Abubakr Baera, have remained in Skhirat.