...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all...as they were covering the ongoing war in Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
The channel urged for the immediate release of the two journalists Mohammed al-Qurij and Mohammed al-Shebani, reminding the kidnappers that detaining journalists is liable to local and international legal actions.
The channel also said it had started taking the necessary measures as per the local and international standards to secure the release of the journalists.
Meanwhile,
...back at the pond, Gloria slowly backed away from the eight-foot bull frog. If the creature croaked she would surely be deafened...
the UNSMIL said journalists in Libya are facing threats and assaults as they pursue truths and freedom of speech, saying the latest was the kidnap of Libya al-Ahrar TV journalists.
"All journalists must be protected like all the civilians in the country. We condemn violence against journalists and call for the end of arbitrary detention." UNSMIL added.
Sources told The Libya Observer that the two journalists were kidnapped as they were moving from al-Aziziya to Sabea area in southern Tripoli. Later, one of the kidnappers called the families of the journalists and said would release them Friday after taking them from Tarhouna-based al-Kani militia, but the release did not happen.
This incident was also condemned by the Libyan Foreign Ministry, which called for the release of the journalists whom it said were doing their job to cover facts and show them to the public.
Likewise, Reporters without Borders denounced the kidnapping and called for the release of the journalists, condemning their detention by 'Al-Kanyat militias of Khalifa Haftar's forces' saying they were held in Tarhouna where Haftar's forces operations room is located.
"The armed forces should respect international laws and avoid targeting media outlets and journalists, who should be released immediately." Head of RSF's North Africa Office Suhaib al-Khayati said.