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Libya crisis deepens as rebel groups expand demands

May 11, 2013 18:45
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's political crisis deepened on Wednesday as armed groups surrounding two ministries in the capital said they had formed an alliance to present an expanded list of six demands that included the resignation of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan. Zeidan, for his part, promised the government would stick to plans to bar anyone who held a senior position under late dictator Muammar Gaddafi and said some ministers would have to be replaced under legislation passed on Sunday.

Two police stations in Libya's Benghazi bombed

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 18:17
Bomb attacks targeted two police stations in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Friday, causing extensive material damage but no casualties, a security official said. "Unknown individuals threw explosive devices at the police stations in Ras Obeida and Al-Madina," the official told AFP. The attacks damaged the police stations and several cars parked nearby, he said.

Former US official in Tripoli describes confusion, call with Clinton during Benghazi attack

The Canadian PressMay 9, 2013 02:45
WASHINGTON - A former top diplomat in Libya on Wednesday delivered a riveting minute-by-minute account of the chaotic events during the deadly assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi last September, with a 2 a.m. call from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and confusion about the fate of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens.

Libya militias pull guns from ministries, press protest

Agence France-PresseMay 8, 2013 14:20
Libyan militiamen withdrew their machinegun mounted pick-up trucks from outside two ministries on Wednesday, but pressed their protests for more concessions from the government, an AFP journalist reported. They had surrounded the foreign ministry on April 28 and the justice ministry two days later to demand a law barring former officials from the ousted regime of Moamer Kadhafi from government posts. The law was passed by the general National Congress on Sunday.

Libya minister rescinds resignation amid political crisis

Agence France-PresseMay 7, 2013 11:43
Libya's defence minister resigned on Tuesday but then changed his mind and the army chief of staff was sacked, as a political crisis deepened over gunmen besieging government ministries. "I find myself compelled, despite opposition from my colleagues in recent days, to present (my resignation) voluntarily and without hesitation," Barghathi said, quoted by the official Lana news agency. "I cannot accept the policy of force used by armed groups in our new state," he added.

Libya defence minister withdraws resignation

Agence France-PresseMay 7, 2013 11:42
Libyan Defence Minister Mohammed al-Barghati resigned on Tuesday, but rescinded his decision several hours later at the request of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, the government said. "The chief of the government asked the defence minister to rescind (his decision) and the minister said he understands, given the circumstances the country is going through, that he should continue in office," a statement said.

Libya defense minister quits over siege of ministries by gunmen

May 7, 2013 11:14
By Ghaith Shennib TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's defense minister resigned on Tuesday in protest at a siege by gunmen of two government ministries, a stark sign of the young democracy's weakness two years after the revolution that overthrew dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Armed groups have refused to disperse even after parliament buckled on Sunday to their main demand by banning from government posts any senior official who served under Gaddafi.

Libya's army chief making "important decision" with premier

May 7, 2013 11:12
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's army chief of staff will make an "important decision" together with the prime minister on Tuesday, a defense ministry spokesman said, denying media reports that the head of the armed forces had quit. Earlier in the day, the defense minister announced his resignation in protest at a siege by gunmen of two government ministries that he called an assault on democracy in Libya, two years after the uprising that toppled dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya defense minister quits over siege of ministries by gunmen

May 7, 2013 11:07
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's defense minister resigned on Tuesday in protest at a siege by gunmen of two government ministries that he denounced as an assault on democracy. He was the first cabinet minister to quit in a crisis over the siege, which armed groups refused to lift even after parliament bowed on Sunday to their main demand by banning any senior official who served under the late dictator Muammar Gaddafi from holding government posts.

Gunmen in standoff with Libyan army at Tripoli protest

May 7, 2013 10:56
By Jessica Donati and Ghaith Shennib TRIPOLI (Reuters) - The Libyan army was deployed to Tripoli's main square on Friday to guard a pro-government rally and became involved in an uneasy standoff with anti-government gunmen. The pro-government protesters were rallying against groups of gunmen who have taken control of two ministries in the capital.
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