Libya Militias Besiege State Buildings, Pressuring Government In Islamist-Liberal Power Fight

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 5:07 PM

TRIPOLI, Libya — Gunmen swooped in on trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns and surrounded Libya’s Justice Ministry on Tuesday, cutting off roads and forcing employees out of the building in the latest instance of powerful militiamen showing their muscle to press their demands on how Libya should be run more than a year after Moammar Gadhafi’s ouster.

Over the past three days, militiamen stormed the headquarters of the Interior Ministry and state-run TV and besieged the Foreign Ministry while publicly calling for the removal of Gadhafi-era officials from government posts and the passage of the so-called “isolation law,” which would bar from political life anyone who held any position —even minor— under the ousted autocrat’s regime.

However, analysts and democracy advocates believe militiamen are using the isolation law as a way to get rid of Prime Minister Ali Zidan, who has vowed to restore the authority of the state and disband the armed groups that have become a power unto themselves in Libya. Many of the militias have an Islamist ideology, while Zidan is seen as more secular and liberal.

“In essence this is power struggle between liberals and Islamists. This is a very dangerous turn that could force Zidan to step down,” said political analyst Saad al-Arial. “Each wants to push the other aside, and the way to do so is in parliament and in the street.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/militiamen-besiege-libyas-justice-ministry-in-defiance-to-government/2013/04/30/037e5eca-b17e-11e2-9fb1-62de9581c946_story.html

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. Nuthin' to see here. Gaddafi's gone; it's all good...

...except for the lack of an effective state and the "armed groups that have become a power unto themselves."

If you're liking post-Gaddafi Libya, you're gonna love post-Assad Syria.

[harmonicon]

2. Made possible by our taxes!! (nt)

[riderinthestorm]

3. Are you listening Mr. President? You did this. Don't do it in Syria too!

We do NOT know the regional dynamics and the major players well enough to even TRY to guess at who to fund.

PLEASE stay out of the Syria mess. PLEASE!!

[quadrature]

4. 'Libya' should be two countries.

an opportunity has been lost.

[David__77]

6. That still may happen.

The east wants out. And the center/west may be all the better for it, freed of oil, true, but also freed of radical Islamists hailing from the east, "cradle of the revolution" and al Qaeda.

[daleo]

5. More blowback on the way?

Getting caught up in things you don't understand...

[joshcryer]

7. Looks like they came from Misrata.

A city besieged for months by Gaddafi and his loyalists.

Not a big surprise they'd want them gone and assurances they won't hold power.

Unfortunately the head of the GNC, Magarief, is off touring the gulf, and recently left Oman where he ... discussed Aisha Gaddafi.

Wonder how this guy would feel about that: