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Libyans Turn on Islamists and Liberals After Killings Libyans Turn on Islamists and Liberals After Killings
(about 1 hour later)
TRIPOLI, Libya — Protesters on Saturday attacked the offices of the Muslim Brotherhood of Libya and the headquarters of a liberal coalition after demonstrations set off by killings in the eastern city of Benghazi turned violent, witnesses said.TRIPOLI, Libya — Protesters on Saturday attacked the offices of the Muslim Brotherhood of Libya and the headquarters of a liberal coalition after demonstrations set off by killings in the eastern city of Benghazi turned violent, witnesses said.
Hundreds took to the streets overnight to denounce the killing of Abdelsalam al-Mosmary, a prominent political activist and critic of the Brotherhood, who was shot Friday after leaving a mosque. Hundreds took to the streets overnight to denounce the killing of Abdelsalam al-Mosmary, a prominent political activist and Brotherhood critic, who was shot Friday after leaving a mosque.
Mr. Mosmary was an outspoken opponent of the Brotherhood, whose Islamist political wing is the second-biggest party in the national congress. Two military officials were also killed in Benghazi on Friday. Mr. Mosmary opposed the Brotherhood, whose Islamist political wing is the second-biggest party in the national congress. Two military officials were also killed in Benghazi on Friday.
Libya’s government is struggling to assert its authority over armed groups that helped topple the longtime ruler Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi in 2011, part of the wave of Arab Spring uprisings that also felled autocrats in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen.Libya’s government is struggling to assert its authority over armed groups that helped topple the longtime ruler Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi in 2011, part of the wave of Arab Spring uprisings that also felled autocrats in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen.
Protesters in Benghazi set fire to two buildings, one belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood and another to its political wing, the Justice and Construction Party, witnesses said.Protesters in Benghazi set fire to two buildings, one belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood and another to its political wing, the Justice and Construction Party, witnesses said.
“They shouted, ‘Gather your belongings. Benghazi wants you out,’ ” said Rami al-Shahibi, a Benghazi resident.
In Tripoli, a crowd stormed the party’s headquarters before moving on to ransack the headquarters of the liberal National Forces Alliance, the country’s biggest political coalition, founded by the wartime rebel prime minister Mahmoud Jibril.In Tripoli, a crowd stormed the party’s headquarters before moving on to ransack the headquarters of the liberal National Forces Alliance, the country’s biggest political coalition, founded by the wartime rebel prime minister Mahmoud Jibril.
There has been rising opposition to the influence of the Brotherhood, which has links to several government ministers. It has struggled to convince Libyans wary of foreign interference that it has no financial or administrative ties to its namesake in neighboring Egypt, whose Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, was overthrown by the military on July 3.There has been rising opposition to the influence of the Brotherhood, which has links to several government ministers. It has struggled to convince Libyans wary of foreign interference that it has no financial or administrative ties to its namesake in neighboring Egypt, whose Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, was overthrown by the military on July 3.
Tensions were also high between secularists and the ruling Islamists in Tunisia, where the funeral of an assassinated secular politician was taking place on Saturday. Tensions were also high between secularists and the ruling Islamists in Tunisia, where the funeral of a slain secular politician took place on Saturday.
Many of the Libyan protesters accused the Brotherhood of being behind the killings in Benghazi, the cradle of the 2011 revolution, a charge the Brotherhood rejected.Many of the Libyan protesters accused the Brotherhood of being behind the killings in Benghazi, the cradle of the 2011 revolution, a charge the Brotherhood rejected.
“We have strongly condemned the assassination of Mosmary, and all the Libyan people should hear this and not openly blame us,” said Abdulrahman al-Dibani, a member of the Justice and Construction Party in the congress.“We have strongly condemned the assassination of Mosmary, and all the Libyan people should hear this and not openly blame us,” said Abdulrahman al-Dibani, a member of the Justice and Construction Party in the congress.
Reached by phone, Bashir el-Kubti, the head of the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya, declined to comment on the attacks on the movement’s offices.Reached by phone, Bashir el-Kubti, the head of the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya, declined to comment on the attacks on the movement’s offices.
Libyans are growing increasingly frustrated with the political squabbling and lawlessness that has followed the overthrow of Colonel Qaddafi.Libyans are growing increasingly frustrated with the political squabbling and lawlessness that has followed the overthrow of Colonel Qaddafi.
“The people were in the streets because they are fed up of all political parties and how the state has failed,” said Hisham Idris, who demonstrated in Martyrs’ Square in Tripoli. “Maybe the growing opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood is because they are trying to achieve their political ambitions using religion as a cover for their agenda.”“The people were in the streets because they are fed up of all political parties and how the state has failed,” said Hisham Idris, who demonstrated in Martyrs’ Square in Tripoli. “Maybe the growing opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood is because they are trying to achieve their political ambitions using religion as a cover for their agenda.”
The Tripoli protesters waved Libyan flags and shouted anti-Brotherhood slogans. A group of youths descended on the Justice and Construction Party offices, smashing windows, climbing on desks, grabbing documents and tossing them in the streets.The Tripoli protesters waved Libyan flags and shouted anti-Brotherhood slogans. A group of youths descended on the Justice and Construction Party offices, smashing windows, climbing on desks, grabbing documents and tossing them in the streets.
Graffiti reading “Go shave your beards, hypocrites — Libya does not need you” was sprayed on the building.Graffiti reading “Go shave your beards, hypocrites — Libya does not need you” was sprayed on the building.