Libya on brink of civil war - TNC head

Libya could face a civil war if it does not rein paramilitary units and get them under control, says Transitional National Council Chief Mustapha Abdel Jalil.

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Thursday, 05.01.2012.

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Libya could face a civil war if it does not rein paramilitary units and get them under control, says Transitional National Council Chief Mustapha Abdel Jalil. The warning came in response to a gun battle between militias in Tripoli which killed four fighters. Libya on brink of civil war - TNC head "We are now between two bitter options. We deal with these violations (clashes between militias) strictly and put the Libyans in a military confrontation which we don't accept, or we split and there will be a civil war," Abdel Jalil told a gathering in the eastern city of Benghazi late Tuesday. “If there's no security, there will be no law, no development and no elections. People are taking the law into their own hands," he added. Two months after former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled and killed, the new Libyan leaders are still unable to maintain control in the country because militias are reluctant to disband and lay down their arms, Reuters has reported. The militias, drawn from dozens of different towns and ideological camps, led the nine-month uprising, backed by NATO air strikes, to end Gaddafi's 42-year rule. They are vying with each other for influence, and believe that to ensure they receive their due share of political power they need to keep an armed presence in the capital. The clashes between various militias broke out in December. Libyan citizens have been protesting against the situation several times since they do not have freedom of movement and are unable to lead normal lives because there is no police and soldiers are in charge of maintaining peace in the streets. The NTC has begun to form a fully functioning army and police force to take over the task of providing security. Abdel Jalil has acknowledged though that progress has been too slow. "We have no security because the fighters have not handed over their weapons despite the chances they've been given to do so through local councils. The response has been weak so far, people are still holding on to their weapons," he noted. Mustapha Abdel Jalil (Beta, file) B92 Beta Tanjug

Libya on brink of civil war - TNC head

"We are now between two bitter options. We deal with these violations (clashes between militias) strictly and put the Libyans in a military confrontation which we don't accept, or we split and there will be a civil war," Abdel Jalil told a gathering in the eastern city of Benghazi late Tuesday.

“If there's no security, there will be no law, no development and no elections. People are taking the law into their own hands," he added.

Two months after former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled and killed, the new Libyan leaders are still unable to maintain control in the country because militias are reluctant to disband and lay down their arms, Reuters has reported.

The militias, drawn from dozens of different towns and ideological camps, led the nine-month uprising, backed by NATO air strikes, to end Gaddafi's 42-year rule.

They are vying with each other for influence, and believe that to ensure they receive their due share of political power they need to keep an armed presence in the capital.

The clashes between various militias broke out in December.

Libyan citizens have been protesting against the situation several times since they do not have freedom of movement and are unable to lead normal lives because there is no police and soldiers are in charge of maintaining peace in the streets.

The NTC has begun to form a fully functioning army and police force to take over the task of providing security. Abdel Jalil has acknowledged though that progress has been too slow.

"We have no security because the fighters have not handed over their weapons despite the chances they've been given to do so through local councils. The response has been weak so far, people are still holding on to their weapons," he noted.

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