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Africa North

Fighting erupts in east Benghazi for the release of drunken gunmen

2019-08-18

[Libya Observer] Heavy gunfire broke out in Tocra town, 70 km east of Benghazi, on Saturday between the town’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the 166th brigade, a militia led by Ayoub Furjani, warlord Khalifa Haftar

...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, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. 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...
’s son-in-law.

Local sources said the 166th militia attacked the town early in the day to release a group of button men arrested by the CID for drinking alcohol.

The 166th militia retreated after hours of heavy exchange of fire, according to the sources.

The Criminal Investigation Department also shot down a surveillance drone believed to be operated by the 166th brigade.

"The situations in the town are still tense," the sources added.

Posted by:Fred

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