http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/03/09/congress-suspends-full-sessions-in-reaction-to-tassault/
Congress suspends full sessions following attack
GNC President Mohamed Magarief
Tripoli, 9 March 2013:
The General National Congress is to temporarily suspend its official meetings. The decision follows Tuesday’s assault when hundreds of armed gunmen threatened members and held them hostage for several hours in an attempt to force them to immediately pass the controversial Political Isolation Law banning Qaddafi era officials from office for 10 years.
It was the latest in number of attacks, but the most violent and most serious assault on Libya’s newfound democracy. Some members were assaulted in the attack.
At a press conference this evening, Saturday, Congress President Mohamed Magarief said that members would not meet under pressure or while threatened with weapons by people trying to terrorise them into action.
The decision had also been taken, he said, because of the lack of adequate secure premises following the earlier trashing of the Congress chamber by injured revolutionaries. The latter had taken it over on 3 February and remained in occupation for a month. They finally quit just a couple of hours before the assault on Congress members who had moved to temporary accommodation at the Meteorological Institute in south Tripoli’s Crimea district.
The move had earlier been canvassed by prominent Congressman Salah Jouda.
Magarief this evening stressed that the Congress was nonetheless determined to continue carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to it in the elections last July. Work would be undertaken to restore and secure the chamber. Meanwhile Congress committees would continue to meet to prepare draft laws, in particularly the budget.
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/03/09/gnc-considering-suspending-sessions-for-up-to-one-week-salah-jaouda/
GNC considering suspending sessions for up to one week – Salah Jaouda
By Sami Zaptia.
Congressman Salah Jaouda (Photo: Facebook)
Tripoli, 9 March 2013:
The GNC is considering suspending its sittings for up to one weak, it has been revealed.
In view of the repeated attacks and incursions by violent, and at times armed, demonstrations on the GNC chamber near the Rixos, and the violent demonstratin at the Kremia site, GNC members it seems are inclined to suspend sessions until security is guaranteed.
GNC member Salah Jaouda speaking live on Libya Al-Ahrar TV today confirmed that unofficially most members seem to be inclined to the suspension of sittings until the government can guarantee some security.
Moreover, he added that in view of the fact that the amputees had caused damage to the original GNC chamber during their forced occupation, that building would need time for renovations to be completed. This would mean that the GNC must look for an alternative site in which to meet.
Asked if moving and holding sessions in another city was considered, Jaouda added that the Transitional Constitutional Declaration stipulates that the GNC meets in the capital Tripoli, and therefore such a move could only take place after a GNC law is passed.
However, GNC member Jaouda thought that the cities of Sirte and Benghazi had the facilities to accommodate the GNC, but that moving out of Tripoli at this time might give the impression that the GNC was moving under pressure.
Jouda added that ultimately, it was up to the GNC leadership to decide if sittings were to be suspended or not, and if not, where the GNC would meet.
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/03/06/magariefs-vehicle-swap-at-gnc-backfired/
Magarief’s vehicle swap at GNC meeting backfired
By Hadi Fornaji.
The right hand side of the Toyota
Tripoli, 6 March 2013:
More details are emerging today of last night’s attack on a vehicle carrying GNC President Mohamed Magarief as he left the Congress building.
It appears that because of the gathering crowds of protestors outside, Magarief or his security advisers decided that he should abandon his distinctive armour-plated black Mercedes 500 and travel with members of his bodyguard detail in their Toyota Land Cruiser. The vehicle picked him up from a minor entrance of the the Meteorological institute in Crimea district south of Tripoli.
The driver’s side of the Toyota
As it left the compound, the Toyota clearly came under a fusillade of gunfire from both sides as well as head on. The bullets smashed the side rear windows but failed to penetrate a second internal glass shield. The window glass was only slightly tinted, so the attackers would have been able to see the GNC president inside the vehicle. The tyres were shot out and bullets lodged in the armoured bodywork. No one inside, including Magarief, sustained any injuries. However those who have been caught up in similar attacks, testify to the horror of the experience. Despite having the run-flat tyres shredded by the gunfire, the driver of the Toyota was able to keep the vehicle moving and escape the attackers.
One of the shredded run-flat tyres
The identity of the gunmen remains unknown. None of the security forces guarding the GNC meeting returned fire and no one was detained. Following this latest attack, Prime Minister Ali Zeidan announced that personal security for government ministers and members of the GNC was being stepped up.
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/03/09/we-are-not-weak-we-are-careful-acting-with-wisdom-is-strength-zeidan/
We are not weak. We are careful. Acting with wisdom is strength – Zeidan
By Sami Zaptia:
- Prime Minister Ali Zeidan: We are not weak. We are careful. Acting with wisdom is strength (Photo Sami Zaptia).
Tripoli, 9 March 2013:
At last Wednesday’s (6th March) press conference, Prime Minister Ali Zeidan and his Interior Minister Ashur Shuwail, reacted strongly to criticism of their government.
This criticism was specifically against his government’s lack of reaction to the holding hostage of GNC members by a group of armed demonstrators.
“I have received reports regarding posts on Facebook saying that we are a weak government”, Zeidan opened in the press conference. “This is not true”, he stated. “From the early hours (of the surrounding of the GNC members in a building in the Kremia area of Tripoli) members of the intelligence service, army and security surrounded the site”, he revealed, contrary to general reports that there was no sign of significant security presence at the remote site.
“But we wanted to step carefully. It is very easy to open fire and cause bloodshed. We are careful not weak. The citizen and human beings have a value”, stressed Zeidan, justifying his government’s unwillingness to meet force with force. “Acting with wisdom and being effective without causing casualties or damage, that is strength”, explained the Prime Minister.
“The presence of arms at the demonstration is proof that there was a premeditated desire to attack the GNC members. The general public asks why the government is slow in passing laws and taking effective action…yet incidents like this delay the passing of laws including the budget”, Zeidan said.
“We will take steps so it is not repeated”, he promised, “but you (the public) should stand with us if there is loss of life. When we use force the public must know that we are using force against people breaking the law”, he added appealing to the public for support.
“We don’t want this or that tribe or city complaining about their citizens. They must know that their sons will be dealt with by force and should restrain their sons”, he said in anticipation of a reaction to any deaths at the hands of government security personnel. “
“We hear many inaccurate reports about the Prime Minister, the government, the GNC and its head, which we accept. But attacks on GNC members are another matter. We won’t let anyone kidnap the government and the law”, he stressed. “I pay tribute to the GNC members for their strength, determination and for standing firm, Zeidan added.
Asked by the press about the alleged role of some GNC members in either inciting or coordinating this violent demonstration, the Prime Minister said he “had no comment” and that that was a GNC matter.
Asked if the timing of his forthcoming visit to Egypt was right in view of the security situation in the country, Zeidan said that his visit also dealt with “security issues”.
More interestingly, in view of all the furor by the GNC that followed his recent Paris conference trip, Zeidan revealed that he had “requested permission from the GNC head to travel” which he had obtained.
He said that the Libyan-Egyptian border has “many goods, people, animals, smuggled goods, armed groups” that pass across it, and therefore it had ramifications on security. He also revealed that general border issues and the opening of consulates in Tobruk and in Marsa Matruh would be discussed.
ASHOUR SHUWAIL: violent demonstrations will continue as long as there are arms on the streets.
Non-peaceful demonstrations will continue as long as there are arms and armed groups said Interior Minister Ashur Shuwail (Photo: Sami Zaptia).
Interior Minister Ashour Shuwail for his part, said his Ministry “were not informed by the GNC of their choice of location to hold their meeting. The site was inappropriate as it only had one entrance”, he complained. Shuwail praised the GNC head for his level headedness during the incident. “We were ready to intervene, but the GNC head decided otherwise”.
Interior Minister Shuwail felt that these types of non-peaceful demonstrations will continue “as long as there are arms spread and there are armed groups who want to obtain their aims by the use of force – closing roads, hospitals, airports, oil sites by the use of force for personal gain”, he explained.
He admitted that “the biggest problem was in the capital Tripoli. Most streets and areas have armed groups in them’, he revealed.
Shuwail then also appealed for help from the general community. “We want NGOs, tribes and families to end this. There will be combing operations of all areas using a specific unit. People are being kidnapped, the GNC head’s car was fired upon by armed people, he complained adding that his government “was preparing a plan for action. There will be no going back”, said the Interior Minister,
“Any militia that does not follow our orders we will not deal with it and we will no longer recognize it”.
http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=9978
| Libya: Pursuit of Damages from Foreign Banks behind Official Replacement 08/03/2013 23:17:00 | ||
Speaking to the Financial Times on 5 March, Mr. Mohsen Derregia, head of the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) said that he believed his pursuit of damages from foreign banks for suspicious deals forged under the Gaddafi regime was one of the reasons behind the Libyan Prime Minister’s decision to replace him on 28 February.
“People associated with the old regime are … in the shadows of those wanting to replace me,” he said by telephone. “They are not in formal positions in the government but they are very effective in their influence.” Derregia said his efforts to recoup billions of dollars lost through sales of derivatives by Goldman Sachs and other financial institutions are now “in limbo”. Derregia denied Prime Minister Ali Zeidan’s reasoning for his replacement that the head of the LIA, saying he had not done his job “properly”. His is to be in court this week to fight his dismissal by the government claiming that the prime minister did not follow the procedures of the board of LIA, which is supposed to enjoy political independence. He cited some measures he undertook as head of LIA in order to bring back Libyan lost assets in foreign capitals. That is including the co-operation with the US Securities and Exchange Commission which is investigating whether Goldman Sachs and other financial companies violated US bribery laws in their dealings with the LIA before the end of the Gaddafi regime in 2011. The appointment of a legal counsel to advise on potential claims arising from “significant” losses suffered on structured financial products. Last year, Derregia told reporters in Milan that investments made in 2007 and 2008 had led to “surprising losses” of about $1.75bn, of which he said $900m was on a single investment with Goldman Sachs. He also named Société Générale. “We have done everything by the book, ethically and with no favouritism,” Mr Derregia told the Financial Times. “But once you get a political meddling of the parties, a sharing of the LIA pie, it won’t be the well organised transparent organisation that Libya needs.” | ||
http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=9977
| Libya: TV Channel Resumes Broadcasting Amid Public Protest against Militiamen 08/03/2013 04:46:00 | ||||||||
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Part of the looted office of Al-Assema TV in Tripoli
Al-Assema, private TV satellite channel airing from Tripoli, resumed broadcasting Thursday night after being stormed by militiamen in the morning. The attack on the channel has been strongly condemned by the public who considered it an aggression on democracy, free press and freedom of expression. Militiamen, who have become the focus of wide protestation of the majority of Libyans, stormed the headquarters of Al-Assema looting and smashing equipment before abducting staffers. Most of the staffers have been released but the militiamen are still holding the channel’s top two managers. The militiamen locked the staffers in a room, torched offices and then led at least six, including the network's owner, manager and employees, to vehicles and took them to an undisclosed location. Later in the day, they freed all except Joumaa al-Usta, and the station's executive manager Mr. Nabil Shibani. The Minister of Information Yousef Sharif described the attack on Al-Assema as criminal calling on the public to protest against the outlaws and to protect the legitimate elected government. Sharif said measures are to be undertaken by the government in this latest and other militia’s actions. The human rights committee in the National Congress said in a statement that the attack on Al-Assema is a violation of human rights and free expression calling for the release of the abducted journalists. The attack on the TV station comes after a widely locally condemned assault against the National Congress on Tuesday in which lawmakers came under siege for hours and were demanded to immediately pass a controversial law that aims to prevent officials who held top jobs under dictator Gaddafi’s regime, to hold office. One of the militiamen pointed his gun at the head of the President of the National Congress Mohamed Magharief, whose car later came under fire while he was leaving the building, which was under siege. But despite the increase of number of incidents against public and private legitimate institutions by the militias, the public opinion is also increasingly moving into the support of the elected government and a stable secure and secure state. | ||||||||
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