Libyan Army Evicts Militia in Tripoli after Authorities Vow to Dissolve 'Unlawful' Groups
Libya's armed forces announced on Sunday that they had dislodged a militia from a military complex on the highway leading to Tripoli International Airport.
Commander in chief Yussef al-Mangush said on his Facebook page that members of the militia were arrested and that their weapons were confiscated.
The sound of gunfire was heard in the area at 9 am (0700 GMT) and lasted less than a minute, an Agence France Presse journalist said.
Mangush made no mention of any casualties.
The move comes a day after the Libyan authorities announced the decision to dissolve all militias that do not come under state authority and set a 48-hour deadline for armed groups to evacuate strategic property in Tripoli.
On Friday, Benghazi residents rebelled against the militias in violence that killed at least 11 people and wounded over 70.
The authorities also decided to put in place an "operations room" in Benghazi bringing together the army, forces of the interior ministry and defense ministry brigades comprising former rebels.
And they called on the army to impose its authority by putting its own officers at the head of brigades born out of the 2011 revolt, which escalated into civil war and toppled the regime of Moammar Gadhafi.
The new authorities have not been able to disband these civilians-turned-fighters though many of their units have joined the ministry of interior or ministry of defense.
On Friday, tens of thousands of Libyans demonstrated against militias.
It came 10 days after an attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi sparked by a U.S.-made film that mocks Islam left four Americans, including ambassador Chris Stevens, dead on the anniversary of 9/11.
Hundreds of them later stormed bases of militias sparking clashes that left 11 dead and dozens wounded. The fighting centered at the HQ of Raf Allah al-Sahati, a salafist brigade under the defense ministry, which was looted.
The measures were the outcome of meetings including de facto Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur, army chief Yussef al-Mangush, intelligence services head Salem al-Hassi as well as national assembly and local council members.
The army also issued an ultimatum ordering militias and armed groups to evacuate military compounds, state property and properties of members of the former regime, the official LANA news agency reported.
It ordered "all individuals and armed groups occupying military barracks, public buildings or property belonging to members of the former regime or (Gadhafi's children) to evacuate these sites within 48 hours."
Hundreds of former rebels have taken over strategic, state-owned military and civilian facilities as well as the properties of supporters and leaders of the former regime in the wake of its fall.
Six members of the security forces were among those killed in the unrest that rocked Libya's second city.
Source: Agence France Presse
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