...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, 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...-led self-styled army.
Sources reported that a Criminal Investigation Department officer was killed along with an Egyptian national, while another person was injured.
Eyewitnesses reported to the media that the armed forces from both sides blocked the roads leading to the festivities' zone.
The reason behind the festivities, according to residents, was a land ownership dispute, while a security source from the Criminal Investigation Department said the fighting was caused by the chase the brigade conducted after one of their officers.
Footage of the festivities was circulated on social media.
Benghazi has seen an unrest over the last days with festivities breaking out at Hadaek area over the arrest of one of the al-Zawiya Martyrs Brigade's fighters.