Another embarrassment in the making for the O Team ? Benghazi rears its head ...
Suspect denies involvement in Chris Stevens killing
Tripoli, 8 August 2013:
A Libyan man wanted by the US authorities on charges related to the killing of US ambassador Chris Stevens has denied involvement.
Reports in the US media yesterday said that Ahmed Abu Khatala, along with a number of as yet unnamed suspects, was facing criminal charges in the case of the attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi on 11 September 2012.
Khatala, however, told the Associated Press yesterday that he had not been questioned by Libyan authorities over the attack. He added that he was not in hiding, but was living a normal life in his city.
He reportedly said that if the US wanted to question him, they should get in touch with the Libyan authorities.
Khatala, who has variously been named as the leader of both Ansar Al-Sharia in Benghazi and a militia group called Abu Obaida Bin Jarrah, told Associated Press that he was now a construction contractor.
Both The New York Times and CNN have reported that, during interviews, Khatala admitted to being in the compound but denied involvement in the attack that left Stevens and three other Americans dead.
A spokesperson from the US embassy in Libya told the Libya Herald that it was not able to comment on “news reports.”
Americans file murder charges in Chris Stevens’ killing
Tripoli, 7 August 2013:
The US authorities have filed criminal charges in the case of the attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi on 11 September 2012 in which US Ambassador Chris Stevens died, along with three other American diplomatic staff.
According to American newspapers including The New York Times and theThe Wall Street Journal as well as to CNN, murder charges have been laid against Ahmed Abu Khatala, named as the leader of Ansar Al-Sharia in Benghazi. Last October, Khatala was reportedly singled out by Libyan officials to the Americans as the man leading the assault.
Around a dozen other suspects have also been charged in connection with the attack. Their names have not been made public as the charges are sealed.
According to The New York Times and CNN, both of which interviewed Khatala, he has admitted to being in the compound after shooting started but denied involvement in the actual attack.
It is not known what the charges will actually entail — whether the US will try to seize Khatala or pressurise the Libyan authorities into arresting him. The Americans are reported to have said that they want the Libyans to make the move but any arrests or seizures could make the present security crisis in Benghazi look like a minor disturbance in comparison.
FBI officers have visited Benghazi to question witnesses. However, Khatala was reported by CNN as saying that he had met with neither them nor the Libyan investigators who told the Americans that he was involved.
Assorted daily political confusions , mayhem in forgotten Libya......
Baghdadi Trial Postponed Again
By Umar Khan.
The proceedings were screened for observers to watch
Tripoli, 7 August 2013:
A court in Tripoli has once again adjourned the trial of Qaddafi’s last prime minister, Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi, and those charged with him – Al-Mabrouk Zamhoul and Amer Tirfas – to 9 October, giving prosecution two months to implement court orders and submit all documents in the next hearing.
Mahmoudi’s trial has been repeatedly postponed, most recently on 13 June, since his controversial extradition from Tunisia in June 2012 At the last hearing, Tirfas’ defence requested more time to study the case.
Today, the defence lawyers raised issue with the un-cooperative attitude of prosecution, its slow speed and presented a document in support of Zamhoul. The court rebuked the Prosecutor General’s representative and ordered to implement the court orders from previous court proceedings and produce the documents before court.
The prosecution told the court that they need two months to submit all the documents and verifications. The judges retired to their chambers to discuss the case and returned 20 minutes later to adjourn the trial till 9 October giving the prosecution the required time.
The three are facing charges of having taken actions leading to the murder of Libyan citizens. They are also charged with embezzlement, in particular transferring €15 million to private accounts in Tunisia to pay for logistic support for the former regime, along with other accusations of financial and administrative irregularities.
The trial started after a slight delay with family members of all three prisoners and media waiting for it to begin. The atmosphere became tense as some family members were visibly angry over the treatment from security officials at the entrance. Some of the family were made to remove belts and shoes, a move that did not appear to go down well with them. The prisoners were brought in blue prison uniforms with heads and beards shaved. The only time they spoke was when their attendance was called by the judge.
All three prisoners kept staring at the floor with occasional looks to the podium where judges were seated and to family members in the hall. The three looked well but distraught throughout the hearing with intense and straight faces. Zamhoul looked the most uncomfortable. He kept murmuring and exchanging looks with his son in the hall.
One of the relatives of Zamhoul, who kept supplicating throughout the hearing, was upset when judge did not take note of the points raised by defence and gave two months to the prosecution. As a sign on protest he remained seated along with few other relatives when the trial was adjourned and everybody else stood up as the judges left the chamber.
Mahmoudi faces separate charges including association with criminal groups and incitement to rape. They are not being examined in the present case.
Zahmoul and Tirfas are said to have been senior officials in an investment company run by Seif Al-Islam.
Strikes keep hydrocarbon exports down
Tripoli, 8 August 2013:
Strikes at Libya’s oil fields and ports have this week brought exports of Es Sidra crude to a complete standstill, according to a Reuters report.
Es Sidra, Ras Lanuf and Brega oil export terminals are all severely affected by strikes being staged by armed guards over pay and conditions, Oil Minister Abdelbari Arusi said at a press conference earlier in the week. He added that the Herega terminal at Tobruk had also been closed by the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) – part of the Libyan Army – in sympathy with strikers at other oil fields and terminals.
Exports from the Zuetina oil terminal have been suspended since July, first by striking workers and, more recently, by a group claiming they were promised jobs that have not been forthcoming. Just two vessels have been loaded at the terminal since strikes began.
Arusi previously admitted that the strikes had cut Libya’s oil production by 70 percent. However, at a press conference three days ago, he said that, despite the ongoing industrial action, production in the west of the country was almost back to normal, at 700,000 barrels per day (bpd). He added that, after the three days of Eid, he expected this to rise to 800,000 bpd.
Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has warned that the country could incur financial penalties for failing to deliver contracted oil supplies.
The Libya Herald was not able to contact the Oil Ministry for comment.
Eid marked in Benghazi with attack on shops: UPDATE
By Ayman Amzein.
Shop owners are perplexed as to why they were attacked
Benghazi, 8 August 2013:
The first day of Eid Al-Fitr saw lawlessness and violence continue unabated in Benghazi this morning with an RPG attack on shops in the city’s Airport Road.
Local residents tried to seize the attacker but he managed to escape. Three land mines, said to be linked to a mobile phone, were also left nearby, one of which exploded, causing further damage.
No one was injured in the attack. Being Eid, all the shops (which included Benghazi’s branch of Marks & Spencer) were closed. But buildings and stock were seriously affected.
The other two mines were later diffused by explosives experts.
There appears to be no apparent reason for the attack, which has left shopkeepers and locals astounded.
Explosives expert at work diffusing the mines
In an earlier incident last night, three men in a BMW car which was still carrying Dutch registration plates attacked a checkpoint at the city’s Tripoli Bridge, reportedly throwing a grenade. One person wassaid to have had to have his hand amputated as a result.
Security forces fired at them and chased the vehicle which then crashed. Two of the assailants escaped on foot while a third, believed to have been the driver and who had been wounded, was captured. He was taken to hospital for treatment where he is under armed guard.
The attackers vehicle
There are unconfirmed reports that the two have also now been caught.
With input from Maha Ellawati.
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