Gunfights erupted in Tripoli on Tuesday and Thursday last week between rival militias competing for control over the Libyan capital. Three were killed and more than 20 were wounded in the clashes. The central government's inability to bring militias under control has been one of the factors that inspired the federalist drive in the east of the country. Last week, Cyrenaica federalists announced the establishment in Tobruk of their own petroleum marketing and sales company. Sources in Tripoli contacted by Al-Ahram Weekly said that skirmishes that flared in Tripoli last week involved a militia based in the Souk Al-Gomaa (Friday Market) district of the city and the Nusur (Eagles) militia that is based in Misrata, 200 kilometres to the east. On Tuesday evening, a truck belonging to the Nusur refused to stop at the security checkpoint at the entrance to Souk Al-Gomaa district. Guards at the checkpoint opened fire on the vehicle, killing one and wounding two of the passengers. According to the sources, other members of the Nusur rushed to the area to rescue their fellow militia members, leading to a shootout between them and the Souk Al-Gomaa militia. In the course of the fighting, Nusur militia leader Nouri Faryun was critically wounded and he died of the injury the following day. Clashes resumed Thursday night when Nusur militia members returned to avenge his death. Libyan authorities — the interim government headed by Ali Zeidan and the General National Congress (GNC) — could only appeal to tribal leaders and notables in Tripoli and Misrata to intervene in order to contain the violence before it spiralled further. The government, itself, confined itself to a statement in which it deplored the armed conflicts and cautioned against their recurrence. In a renewed attempt to counter the spread of militia violence, Prime Minister Zeidan reiterated his government's offer to purchase the weapons of militiamen and destroy them. In a press conference held Saturday and attended by several ministers, he said: “We have asked the international community to offer us its expertise in the process of collecting and eliminating the weapons. If the GNC approves and if the members of the government agree, we will solicit the assistance of Libyan arbitrators. But if Libyans are unwilling to hand over their weapons to fellow Libyans, then we will bring in an international agency to help with the collection and destruction of the weapons from all Libyans, except for government agencies.” The prime minister stressed that no decision had been made with regard to such an action, but that it was one that Libyan public opinion needed to contemplate seriously. He added: “The international community will not let us remain this way. It will not allow a region in the Mediterranean to become a source for violence, terrorism, murder and turmoil. We still fall under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1970, which was issued in order to protect civilians. Anyone who raises his weapon, shoots and kills civilians is guilty of assault against civilians.” He continued: “This is not a threat. It is an explanation of reality. If the international community grows impatient with us, it will act. We must all realise this and understand it well.” The prime minister concluded with a caution to all officers and soldiers of the army and police to report to their units or camps immediately or else they will have their salaries cut. This was one of the few occasions in which Zeidan intimated that he might request international intervention to assist Libyan authorities contain the militias that have proliferated since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi during the 17 February Revolution. The state of security continues its steady decline. Nor is inter-militia violence the only manifestation of the trend. Murder and assassination of army and police officers and soldiers continues unabated, especially in Benghazi where the pace of political assassinations has shot up. More than 100 assassinations have taken place in this eastern city alone since the February 2011 uprising. The government's inability to bring the security situation under control and its performance in general has caused mounting frustration and anger among the Libyan public. The 9 November Movement has organised a series of demonstrations in various cities to oppose the renewal of the GNC's term, which is due to end 7 February, and insist on fresh elections to bring in a new legislative body and government to steer the country. As the movement's leaders put it, it has become apparent to all that the current government and congress are incapable of administrating the affairs of the country properly. Therefore, it is necessary to press for early elections to reform the GNC, inject fresh blood and create a mini crisis government made up of competent national and youth figures. The demonstrations were staged in most major Libyan cities, apart from Benghazi where it was inappropriate to hold demonstrations in view of the deteriorating security conditions in that city, according to statement issued by 9 November leaders. Speaking to the Weekly by phone, Hisham Al-Wandi, one of the founders of the 9 November Movement, said that his movement supported legitimacy and the peaceful rotation of power. But early elections would be a “frank response to the deplorable state to which the situation in the country has sunk”. Al-Wandi denied that his movement was similar to the Tamarod (Rebel) movement that picked up momentum in Egypt earlier in the year and led to the ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi. “We don't have the capacities of Tamarod, or the Egyptian army,” he said. But what if the GNC refuses to respond to the movement's demands? Closer thought would have to be given to the options when the time comes, he said. But possibly his movement would contemplate “escalatory measures” such as mass strikes or civil disobedience campaigns in major cities, or a petition drive spearheaded by Libyan youth until the GNC announces a roadmap to hand over power. Under the constitutional declaration issued by the Interim National Assembly, the chief duty of the GNC is to lead the country for a period of 18 months, during which it would form a committee to draft a new constitution. Once the constitution is ratified, it would hold general elections and then hand over power to the newly elected legislative body. According to the timetable set out in the constitutional declaration, the GNC's term is due to end 7 February, but GNC officials have hinted at the possibility of extending its term. Meanwhile, in the latest development in the federalist drive to the east, Abdurabbi Al-Barasi, president of the Executive Bureau of the “Cyrenaica region” announced the creation of the Libyan Oil and Gas Organisation. The measure was taken in response to what he described as the government's failure to investigate petroleum theft due to the lack of proper metering. In a press conference held Sunday, Al-Barasi said that the organisation would be directed by Saleh Abu Zeid Al-Mismari and be initially based in Tobruk, near the border with Egypt, before being moved to Benghazi. Another purpose of the press conference was to respond to an ultimatum issued against the federalists by Premier Zeidan the previous day. “Zeidan's remarks do not even merit a response,” Al-Barasi said. Simultaneously, Ibrahim Al-Gadran, who heads the so-called Political Bureau of the Cyrenaica Region, lashed out against the government and the GNC: “What can we expect from a government whose prime minister gets kidnapped from his bedroom? What can we expect from a congress that has never addressed the demands that led to its establishment and that formed the basis for its legitimacy? We still insist that the government sold oil without using measurement units. We will not make the same mistake. We have instructed the Executive Bureau to equip the installations with measuring units before the Libyan Gas and Petroleum Organisation begins sale of oil. This task should not require too much time, according to specialists.” In his press conference in Tripoli on Saturday, Zeidan warned, referring to the federalists in Benghazi, that he would give “those groups” a week to 10 days, after which the government would act. He added: “The government will not allow the safety and the integrity of the nation to be violated by such political illusions, as have been announced [by the federalists in Benghazi].” He refused to go into detail on the government's plan of action in the event that the crisis escalates. As the situation stands, the likelihood is that it will escalate, in tandem with the other crises that have plagued the country since the beginning of the year.
