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Libya’s Prime Minister Ousted in Chaos Over Tanker Libya’s Prime Minister Ousted in Chaos Over Tanker
(2 days later)
CAIRO — Libya’s transitional Parliament voted on Tuesday to remove its prime minister as his government conceded that despite days of bluster it was powerless to stop a tanker from sailing away with an illicit shipment of Libyan oil.CAIRO — Libya’s transitional Parliament voted on Tuesday to remove its prime minister as his government conceded that despite days of bluster it was powerless to stop a tanker from sailing away with an illicit shipment of Libyan oil.
The ouster of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan underscored the explosive danger of loss of control over Libya’s petroleum, the lifeblood of its economy. With negligible military or police forces, oil revenue has been the last bargaining chip for the weak transitional government in its struggle to subdue the fractious local militia and tribes that took up arms during the rebellion that overthrew Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.The ouster of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan underscored the explosive danger of loss of control over Libya’s petroleum, the lifeblood of its economy. With negligible military or police forces, oil revenue has been the last bargaining chip for the weak transitional government in its struggle to subdue the fractious local militia and tribes that took up arms during the rebellion that overthrew Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.
The tanker escaped with the oil in defiance of military threats from Tripoli and legal warnings from Washington, and its voyage has evoked the lawlessness that prevailed on the same coast two centuries ago, when Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison sent the Marines and Navy to subdue the Barbary pirates.The tanker escaped with the oil in defiance of military threats from Tripoli and legal warnings from Washington, and its voyage has evoked the lawlessness that prevailed on the same coast two centuries ago, when Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison sent the Marines and Navy to subdue the Barbary pirates.
The oil sale is a vindication for Ibrahim Jathran, 33, the militia commander who has led an eight-month blockade of Libya’s main oil ports to demand more revenue, power and autonomy for the Eastern region. He took up arms in the revolt against the Qaddafi regime, and the transitional government initially chose him to lead a force charged with protecting the oil infrastructure. But then he turned against the government to join the Eastern Regionalist, or “Federalist,” cause. The oil sale is a vindication for Ibrahim Jathran, 33, the militia commander who has led an eight-month blockade of Libya’s main oil ports to demand more revenue, power and autonomy for the eastern region. He took up arms in the revolt against the Qaddafi regime, and the transitional government initially chose him to lead a force charged with protecting the oil infrastructure. But then he turned against the government to join the eastern regionalist, or “federalist,” cause.
Libyan officials had appeared willing to wait out his blockade but fear his sale of oil as a far more serious threat. Then, after midnight on Tuesday morning, Mr. Jathran, gave a televised statement on what appeared to be the deck of the oil tanker, defying the United States State Department, which called the sale a “theft” from the Libyan people and warned of legal action. Libyan officials had appeared willing to wait out his blockade but feared his sale of oil as a far more serious threat. Then, after midnight on Tuesday morning, Mr. Jathran gave a televised statement on what appeared to be the deck of the oil tanker, defying the United States State Department, which called the sale a “theft” from the Libyan people and warned of legal action.
“Some parties might interpret your statement as an incitement to war,” he said, directing his remarks to the United States ambassador, Deborah K. Jones. He said he was speaking on behalf of what he called “the politburo of Cyrenaica,” as the Eastern province is called, and added that he welcomed international oversight of the disposition of the proceeds from the sale as well as any “constructive role” the United States might play in “achieving the aspirations for justice and equality of the people of Cyrenaica.” “Some parties might interpret your statement as an incitement to war,” he said, directing his remarks to the United States ambassador, Deborah K. Jones. He said he was speaking on behalf of what he called “the politburo of Cyrenaica,” as the eastern province is called, and added that he welcomed international oversight of the disposition of the proceeds from the sale as well as any “constructive role” the United States might play in “achieving the aspirations for justice and equality of the people of Cyrenaica.”
By Tuesday afternoon, the sale had also raised the specter of new clashes among regional militias. Near the midcoastal city of Sirte, fighters from the East supporting Mr. Jathran squared off against fighters from the Western city of Misrata, who denounced the sale as theft.By Tuesday afternoon, the sale had also raised the specter of new clashes among regional militias. Near the midcoastal city of Sirte, fighters from the East supporting Mr. Jathran squared off against fighters from the Western city of Misrata, who denounced the sale as theft.
The Parliament swore in the interim defense minister, Abdullah al-Thinni, for a two-week stint as acting prime minister, but there was no consensus about who might succeed him. The Parliament is disorganized, divided among lawmakers associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, those elected under the banner of a Western-friendly anti-Islamist coalition, and shifting coalitions of independents, which include ultraconservative Salafi Islamists and eclectic local notables. The Parliament swore in the interim defense minister, Abdullah al-Thinni, for a two-week stint as acting prime minister, but there was no consensus about who might succeed him. The Parliament is disorganized, divided among lawmakers associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, those elected under the banner of a Western-friendly anti-Islamist coalition, and shifting coalitions of independents, who include ultraconservative Salafi Islamists and eclectic local notables.
Mr. Zeidan, who had previously worked in Geneva as a human rights lawyer and leader of the exiled opposition to Colonel Qaddafi, was himself kidnapped for a few hours last October by a local militia group, which released him unharmed and apparently suffered no consequences. (The acting prime minister’s son was kidnapped for several months.) Mr. Zeidan has survived several attempted votes of no-confidence over his government’s failure to stabilize the country or end the oil blockades. He was protected in part by the absence of viable candidates to succeed him. Mr. Zeidan, who had previously worked in Geneva as a human rights lawyer and leader of the exiled opposition to Colonel Qaddafi, was himself kidnapped for a few hours last October by a local militia group, which released him unharmed and apparently suffered no consequences. (The acting prime minister’s son was kidnapped and held for several months.) Mr. Zeidan has survived several attempted votes of no confidence over his government’s failure to stabilize the country or end the oil blockades. He was protected in part by the absence of viable candidates to succeed him.
His inability to deter the illicit oil sales, however, evidently dissolved the last of his credibility. He had issued repeated, and unenforced, ultimatums for months threatening military action. Then, when the tanker reached the Eastern port of Sidra over the weekend, Mr. Zeidan threatened to bomb it out of the water, even if that caused “an environmental disaster.” His inability to deter the illicit oil sales, however, evidently dissolved the last of his credibility. He had issued repeated, and unenforced, ultimatums for months threatening military action. Then, when the tanker reached the eastern port of Sidra over the weekend, Mr. Zeidan threatened to bomb it out of the water, even if that caused “an environmental disaster.”
Even as late as Monday night, other officials of his government were insisting that gunships loyal to Tripoli had surrounded the tanker or even seized it.Even as late as Monday night, other officials of his government were insisting that gunships loyal to Tripoli had surrounded the tanker or even seized it.
Mr. Zeidan had already acknowledged his impotence, saying Libya’s fledgling military had refused his command to stop the tanker’s arrival in Sidra. “Everybody was working against us,” he said over the weekend.Mr. Zeidan had already acknowledged his impotence, saying Libya’s fledgling military had refused his command to stop the tanker’s arrival in Sidra. “Everybody was working against us,” he said over the weekend.
Then other government officials acknowledged on Tuesday that the tanker had slipped away into international waters. Abdul Qader Hweli, a member of Parliament’s energy committee, blamed bad weather. “The vessels that were besieging the tanker were not equipped to withstand such weather,” he said in a television interview. “The tanker could sail better than the vessels in such weather.”Then other government officials acknowledged on Tuesday that the tanker had slipped away into international waters. Abdul Qader Hweli, a member of Parliament’s energy committee, blamed bad weather. “The vessels that were besieging the tanker were not equipped to withstand such weather,” he said in a television interview. “The tanker could sail better than the vessels in such weather.”
The tanker, the Morning Glory, flew a North Korean flag, but shipping experts said that was presumably a cover for its real ownership. Libyan and American officials said they intend to take legal action against anyone involved in shipping or buying the oil. If the shipment is deemed illegal, NATO ships could still apprehend the tanker. And any buyer known to have received the oil could face American sanctions or be shut out of future Libyan oil sales. But the tanker might attempt to offload its cargo in Syria, where petroleum supplies are short. It could pump it into another vessel flagged to Russia or another country unconcerned about Western opinion, or it could pump smaller lots to other tankers taking multiple shipments. The tanker, the Morning Glory, flew a North Korean flag, but shipping experts said that was presumably a cover for its real ownership. Libyan and American officials said they intended to take legal action against anyone involved in shipping or buying the oil. If the shipment is deemed illegal, NATO ships could still apprehend the tanker. And any buyer known to have received the oil could face American sanctions or be shut out of future Libyan oil sales. But the tanker might attempt to offload its cargo in Syria, where petroleum supplies are short. It could pump it into another vessel flagged to Russia or another country unconcerned about Western opinion, or it could pump smaller lots to other tankers taking multiple shipments.
“In theory,” said Badr H. Jafar, the chairman of Crescent Petroleum, a regional oil and gas company in the United Arab Emirates, “any trade is possible if they get the oil to international waters.” “In theory,” said Badr H. Jafar, the president of Crescent Petroleum, a regional oil and gas company in the United Arab Emirates, “any trade is possible if they get the oil to international waters.”