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Tripoli eats cake to celebrate Libyan militias' withdrawal | Tripoli eats cake to celebrate Libyan militias' withdrawal |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Tripoli residents have been brandishing and eating pastries on the streets this week as a symbol of their victory in forcing militias from elsewhere in Libya to withdraw from the capital. | Tripoli residents have been brandishing and eating pastries on the streets this week as a symbol of their victory in forcing militias from elsewhere in Libya to withdraw from the capital. |
The city is famous for its baryoosh - a croissant-like brioche - but since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, its residents have been derided by some in the provinces as cake-eaters. | The city is famous for its baryoosh - a croissant-like brioche - but since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, its residents have been derided by some in the provinces as cake-eaters. |
The capital was one of the last cities to be taken by rebel forces during the 2011 revolution and how it fell is a very testy subject. | The capital was one of the last cities to be taken by rebel forces during the 2011 revolution and how it fell is a very testy subject. |
Some Misrata militias branded those in the capital as the "baryoosh-eating Tripolitans that we liberated". | Some Misrata militias branded those in the capital as the "baryoosh-eating Tripolitans that we liberated". |
Gaddafi's forces in Tripoli were defeated by a combination of local residents and brigades from Misrata, Zintan and Zawia. | |
The problem for the new government in the two years since the killing of Libya's long-time ruler is that many of these brigades have refused to disarm and refused to leave the capital - until events last Friday. | The problem for the new government in the two years since the killing of Libya's long-time ruler is that many of these brigades have refused to disarm and refused to leave the capital - until events last Friday. |
It was the bloodiest day witnessed in Tripoli since the end of the war in 2011. | It was the bloodiest day witnessed in Tripoli since the end of the war in 2011. |
Dozens of people were killed and hundreds were injured in a district of Tripoli during protests to evict a Misrata militia from its headquarters. | Dozens of people were killed and hundreds were injured in a district of Tripoli during protests to evict a Misrata militia from its headquarters. |
The militia used anti-aircraft guns and other weapons against the demonstrators. | The militia used anti-aircraft guns and other weapons against the demonstrators. |
This resulted in some protesters going home to get their own weapons and bringing back reinforcements of small heavily armed groups from their local districts. | This resulted in some protesters going home to get their own weapons and bringing back reinforcements of small heavily armed groups from their local districts. |
More clashes and deaths followed. | More clashes and deaths followed. |
Since then, all or most of the brigades and militias from Misrata have pulled out of Tripoli. | Since then, all or most of the brigades and militias from Misrata have pulled out of Tripoli. |
They were given 72 hours to leave by the local council of Misrata following emergency talks with the city's elders - there was a fear that their continued presence in Tripoli would deepen rifts and many Misratans are long-time residents in the capital. | They were given 72 hours to leave by the local council of Misrata following emergency talks with the city's elders - there was a fear that their continued presence in Tripoli would deepen rifts and many Misratans are long-time residents in the capital. |
Almond and honey toppings | Almond and honey toppings |
Now Tripolitans want all the many rogue armed groups in the city to leave. | Now Tripolitans want all the many rogue armed groups in the city to leave. |
Each day this week there have been small anti-militia protests in Tripoli - and there you will see people munching on baryooshes, usually served with sweetened frappes, and waving them around. | Each day this week there have been small anti-militia protests in Tripoli - and there you will see people munching on baryooshes, usually served with sweetened frappes, and waving them around. |
The demonstrators have even been giving the brioches out to the freshly deployed policemen to show that at last Tripoli is getting the upper hand. | The demonstrators have even been giving the brioches out to the freshly deployed policemen to show that at last Tripoli is getting the upper hand. |
They were the plain baryooshes, not those most loved by Tripoli's residents from Haj Fathi's cafe, where they are topped with crushed almonds and honey or chocolate. | They were the plain baryooshes, not those most loved by Tripoli's residents from Haj Fathi's cafe, where they are topped with crushed almonds and honey or chocolate. |
Many shops were closed this week for the general strike to remember those killed by the Misrata brigades. | Many shops were closed this week for the general strike to remember those killed by the Misrata brigades. |
Some protestors were chanting: "Baryoosh, baryoosh, what's wrong with baryoosh?" | Some protestors were chanting: "Baryoosh, baryoosh, what's wrong with baryoosh?" |
Mohamed Suweidan, a young man sputtering through his last bite at a protest in Algeria square, told the BBC: "We continue to demand that our capital and our cities be free from militias and their bases. | Mohamed Suweidan, a young man sputtering through his last bite at a protest in Algeria square, told the BBC: "We continue to demand that our capital and our cities be free from militias and their bases. |
"This Friday there will be another [big] protest… And we want the army and police to support this protest." | "This Friday there will be another [big] protest… And we want the army and police to support this protest." |
Protester Haj Ghaith agreed and said most of the armed groups are preventing Libya from moving forward. | Protester Haj Ghaith agreed and said most of the armed groups are preventing Libya from moving forward. |
"All the killings and crime is from them. They are the ones who organise these operations, no-one else. | "All the killings and crime is from them. They are the ones who organise these operations, no-one else. |
"Everything that's happening in Libya is because of them." | "Everything that's happening in Libya is because of them." |
Several armed groups loosely attached to the ministries of defence and interior which occupy unofficial bases have now announced their imminent withdrawal as more and more protests are planned. | Several armed groups loosely attached to the ministries of defence and interior which occupy unofficial bases have now announced their imminent withdrawal as more and more protests are planned. |
Some say it is an opportune time for them to go. | Some say it is an opportune time for them to go. |
"It's easier for them to go back to their cities or homes now - they've made enough money," one Tripoli resident said. | "It's easier for them to go back to their cities or homes now - they've made enough money," one Tripoli resident said. |
'Protecting the people' | 'Protecting the people' |
The bigger quandary for officials will be how to ensure their disbandment and disarmament or integration into the legitimate security forces. | The bigger quandary for officials will be how to ensure their disbandment and disarmament or integration into the legitimate security forces. |
The official army and police have been out in full force on the streets of the capital this week. | The official army and police have been out in full force on the streets of the capital this week. |
The minister of defence says the soldiers are under the command of the chief of staff and that these units have an ID number and rank. | The minister of defence says the soldiers are under the command of the chief of staff and that these units have an ID number and rank. |
There have been several army graduation ceremonies in recent months for soldiers who trained abroad as Libya pushes ahead to rebuild an army. | There have been several army graduation ceremonies in recent months for soldiers who trained abroad as Libya pushes ahead to rebuild an army. |
Policeman Arif Mustafa-Ahmed mans a post in central Tripoli, sporting a professional uniform and a bullet-proof vest. | Policeman Arif Mustafa-Ahmed mans a post in central Tripoli, sporting a professional uniform and a bullet-proof vest. |
He told me some of the men in his unit trained in Algeria and Italy. | He told me some of the men in his unit trained in Algeria and Italy. |
"We work for a special operations command under the Ministry of Interior. We take orders... we are not free to act as we want to, we answer to a legitimate government," he said emphatically. | "We work for a special operations command under the Ministry of Interior. We take orders... we are not free to act as we want to, we answer to a legitimate government," he said emphatically. |
His colleague, who is originally from Benghazi, was quick to add that they come from various cities in Libya and "we are all brothers and former fighters". | His colleague, who is originally from Benghazi, was quick to add that they come from various cities in Libya and "we are all brothers and former fighters". |
But they signed up to the police individually and left their armed groups early on. | But they signed up to the police individually and left their armed groups early on. |
When asked if they were prepared to face militias in the event of further civilian protests against them, the policeman from Benghazi replied: "We are here to protect the people. | When asked if they were prepared to face militias in the event of further civilian protests against them, the policeman from Benghazi replied: "We are here to protect the people. |
"If there is a protest, God willing we will be the first ones there." | "If there is a protest, God willing we will be the first ones there." |
This will give a sceptical public some hope. | This will give a sceptical public some hope. |
But for now the words of Louis XVI of France's queen is proving sustenance to some of the protesters. | But for now the words of Louis XVI of France's queen is proving sustenance to some of the protesters. |
"We ate the croissants Marie Antoinette said we should eat and the militias left," one Tripoli resident quipped. | "We ate the croissants Marie Antoinette said we should eat and the militias left," one Tripoli resident quipped. |