http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/07/27/massive-jailbreak-near-benghazi-1200-convicts-on-the-run/
Massive jailbreak near Benghazi – 1,182 convicts on the run
By Ahmed Elumami.
Kuayfia prison, the scene of a major jailbreak in the early hours of this morning
Benghazi, 27 July 2013:
More than a thousand prisoners are on the run in the east of Libya, following a major jailbreak during a riot at Kuayfia Prison near Benghazi.
A total of 1,200 convicted criminals escaped from the government facility, which is some ten kilometres to the east of Benghazi, at 4.30 this morning. They made their escape while a group of the prison’s 4,000 inmates were engaged in “civil disobedience,” according to spokesman for the Benghazi Joint Security Room, Mohamed Hejazi.
“Libyan Army Special Forces surrounded and secured the prison and other teams then started to search for the escapees,” Hejazi told the Libya Herald.
He said that just 18 of the escaped convicts had been caught, leaving 1,182 at large.
Kuayfia Prison houses both Libyan and sub-Saharan African prisoners. The escapees are serving sentences for a range of crimes, including murder, drug dealing and crimes of morality, Hejazi told the Libya Herald.
Although the riot gave the inmates the opportunity to escape, Hejazi admitted that security at the facility was substandard.
“They were able to escape because the prison did not have enough security equipment to secure either the staff or the facility,” he said.
The prison is now under the control of the Special Forces of the Libyan Army.
Benghazi Congresswoman resigns in wake of assassinations
By Ahmed Elumami.
Recent assassinations and ongoing problems facing the country have prompted Ameena Mohamed Mogherbi to resign
Benghazi, 27 July 2013:
Congresswoman Ameena Mohamed Al-Mogherbi has resigned in protest at the recent events in Benghazi and the deteriorating security situation across the country.
“The government is unable to enhance security and the Prime Minister is not following the General National Congress (GNC) laws,” Mogherbi told the Libya Herald today. “This is a problem because the GNC is working very hard for the people, especially those Libyans who decided to topple Qaddafi’s regime.”
Mogherbi added that the GNC had held a lot of meetings with Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, “to investigate why the government hasn’t activated security despite the GNC providing them with a budget and security equipment.”
The resignation is not just about the government, however. “I have also resigned in support of the Benghazi people and the families who have lost their sons recently,” she told the Libya Herald.
Benghazi has seen a string of assassinations of security and military officials in the last month. The killing of popular political activist Abdulsalam Musmari on Friday has sparked a backlash of protests in both Benghazi and Tripoli.
Mogherbi will formally hand in her resignation at tomorrow’s GNC sitting. Once any member of Congress reads their resignation aloud in front of the GNC, it is automatically accepted.
Musmari killing sparks protests against Muslim Brotherhood
By Maha Ellawati.
Benghazi women comfort each other during protests against the killing of Musmari (Photo: Fdaelullah Bujwary)
Benghazi, 27 July 2013:
The killing of popular Libyan political activist, Abdulsalam Musmari, in Benghazi has sparked country-wide protests against the Muslim Brotherhood.
Hundreds of men and women in Benghazi took to the streets last night in fury at the assassination of Musmari, one in a string of recent killings. Two military officials were also assassinated last night in Benghazi, one shot in the back while he was praying.
Convinced that members of the Muslim Brotherhood are behind the attacks, protestors said they wanted the organisation to leave both Benghazi and Libya. Protestors stormed two of the Muslim Brotherhood’s main premises in the city, one of which was the local headquarters of the Justice and Construction Party (JCP) – the political arm of the Brotherhood. There have been reports that both were set alight.
Many of the protestors were in tears, mourning the loss of a political figure who, they say, consistently made a stand against militias and Islamists. He also frequently appeared on television to encourage the residents of Benghazi to stage protests in response to bombings and assassinations in the area.
“The death of Musmari was a big loss for Benghazi and the whole of Libya,” one resident told the Libya Herald, “he was a good, good man.”
“When somebody speaks the truth, it will cost him his life,” one banner read, in reference to Musmari’s open criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood. Another handwritten sign said “We want police, not gunmen.”
Other towns and cities across the country have reportedly demonstrated in solidarity with Benghazi in the early hours of this morning. Protestors filled Tripoli’s Martyrs’ Square and the long-standing Political Isolation Law tent in one corner of the square, manned largely by Muslim Brotherhood supporters and activists, has been taken down.
There have also been reports of protests in Zintan, Tobruk and Zawiya.
Two more assassinations in Benghazi
By Ahmed Elumami and Maha Ellawati.
Benghazi, 27 July 2013:
Benghazi was the scene of further violence yesterday, with two more security officials assassinated in the city, one while he was at prayer.
Retired Commander of the local Defence and Training department of the Libyan Air Force, Salem Alsarah, was shot during evening prayers last night.
“Alsarah was killed while he was praying during Taraweeh Prayers at the Al-Tauba mosque in the city’s Al-Laythi district,” spokesman for the Benghazi Joint Security Forces (BJSF), Mohamed Hejazi, told the Libya Herald. He added: “I don’t know what kind of people these are who can kill in the house of God.”
One eye-witness reported seeing the killer, who apparently used a pistol to carry out the assassination. Others in the mosque could not distinguish the sound of the gunfire from fireworks, Hejazi said, otherwise they would have tried to apprehend the killer.
The Commander of Shekhra area police station, Colonel Khatab Younes Al-Zwyi, was also assassinated late last night, while he was engaged in a security mission in the city, Hejazi told the Libya Herald.
Al-Zwyi was the third high-profile killing in the city yesterday. Lawyer and political activist Abdulsalam Musmari was assassinated yesterday afternoon as he walked home from his local mosque.
A popular local figure, Musmari’s killing sparked protests late last night. Hundreds of angry Benghazi residents demonstrated in front of the Tibesti Hotel, after walking to Musmari’s home, to pay their respects to his family.
Two Benghazi Congresswomen, Halima Abdulmatloub Al-Warrfeli and Ameena Mohamed Al-Moghirbi, took part in the demonstrations.
The protestors condemned the assassinations and the lack of effective security in the city, despite promises that this would be beefed up during Ramadan. They also spoke out against the Muslim Brotherhood, blaming both them and Qaddafi loyalists for the recent attacks, and for destabilising security across the region.
No comments:
Post a Comment