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Prominent Libyans Vow Support for General Prominent Libyans Vow Support for General
(4 months later)
TRIPOLI, Libya — A Libyan general who has led a violent campaign against Islamist militias and lawmakers drew prominent new supporters to his cause on Wednesday, including the country’s air force commander and its ambassador to the United Nations. TRIPOLI, Libya — A Libyan general who has led a violent campaign against Islamist militias and lawmakers drew prominent new supporters to his cause on Wednesday, including the country’s air force commander and its ambassador to the United Nations.
Libya’s largest non-Islamist political alliance also said in a statement that it was supporting the general, Khalifa Hifter, who began his campaign on Friday by leading an assault on Islamist militias in Benghazi.Libya’s largest non-Islamist political alliance also said in a statement that it was supporting the general, Khalifa Hifter, who began his campaign on Friday by leading an assault on Islamist militias in Benghazi.
What began as a fairly isolated attack against Islamist bases in one corner of the country appears to be growing into a national political movement. General Hifter has won support from a disparate band of allies, including some Libyans angered by the outsize influence of militias, which have been accused of assassinations and other political violence.What began as a fairly isolated attack against Islamist bases in one corner of the country appears to be growing into a national political movement. General Hifter has won support from a disparate band of allies, including some Libyans angered by the outsize influence of militias, which have been accused of assassinations and other political violence.
The fledgling government has been powerless to exert its authority over the militias or other influential figures, including regional leaders and tribal elders, since the fall of the country’s dictator, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, three years ago.The fledgling government has been powerless to exert its authority over the militias or other influential figures, including regional leaders and tribal elders, since the fall of the country’s dictator, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, three years ago.
Since Friday, General Hifter and his Libyan National Army have won vows of allegiance from army and air force units, militias and prominent political figures. He has claimed credit for an assault on the interim Parliament in Tripoli on Sunday.Since Friday, General Hifter and his Libyan National Army have won vows of allegiance from army and air force units, militias and prominent political figures. He has claimed credit for an assault on the interim Parliament in Tripoli on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday night, General Hifter said he had acted out of concern over Libya’s overwhelming security perils. “We were stepping in to answer the demands of the Libyan people and to correct the course of the revolution,” he said.Speaking to reporters on Wednesday night, General Hifter said he had acted out of concern over Libya’s overwhelming security perils. “We were stepping in to answer the demands of the Libyan people and to correct the course of the revolution,” he said.
Even as General Hifter has won supporters, his accomplishments have remained elusive. His campaign has set off some of the worst clashes since the fall of Colonel Qaddafi, killing at least 100 people. The government has dismissed his action as an attempted coup, and his Islamist opponents have vowed revenge.Even as General Hifter has won supporters, his accomplishments have remained elusive. His campaign has set off some of the worst clashes since the fall of Colonel Qaddafi, killing at least 100 people. The government has dismissed his action as an attempted coup, and his Islamist opponents have vowed revenge.
Clashes were reported on Wednesday at two military installations in Tripoli, in a sign that retaliatory violence against General Hifter may already be underway.Clashes were reported on Wednesday at two military installations in Tripoli, in a sign that retaliatory violence against General Hifter may already be underway.
The military takeover of the Islamist government in Egypt last summer appears to have provided a template for him and his supporters, despite what analysts say are obvious differences between the two countries. Indeed, the rhetoric in Libya has increasingly begun to echo that of Egypt, where the military takeover was followed by a brutal government crackdown on the ruling Islamist party, the Muslim Brotherhood. General Hifter and his allies have taken up the Egyptian military’s portrayal of their fight against the Islamists as a war on terrorism.The military takeover of the Islamist government in Egypt last summer appears to have provided a template for him and his supporters, despite what analysts say are obvious differences between the two countries. Indeed, the rhetoric in Libya has increasingly begun to echo that of Egypt, where the military takeover was followed by a brutal government crackdown on the ruling Islamist party, the Muslim Brotherhood. General Hifter and his allies have taken up the Egyptian military’s portrayal of their fight against the Islamists as a war on terrorism.
Some of Libya’s Islamists have derided his action as an attack on religion and accused him of being backed by the same foreign powers who supported the Egyptian military’s turn against the Brotherhood, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.Some of Libya’s Islamists have derided his action as an attack on religion and accused him of being backed by the same foreign powers who supported the Egyptian military’s turn against the Brotherhood, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
General Hifter said on Wednesday that he was speaking on behalf of the “Supreme Council of the Armed Forces” in Libya — a previously unknown entity whose name he apparently borrowed from Egypt’s highest military council.General Hifter said on Wednesday that he was speaking on behalf of the “Supreme Council of the Armed Forces” in Libya — a previously unknown entity whose name he apparently borrowed from Egypt’s highest military council.
One prominent Islamist leader in Benghazi, who requested anonymity to avoid provoking more violence, said General Hifter was trying to lead the country to a dictatorship. “Does he want us to be slaves for Hifter?” he said. “We have no intention of backing down.”One prominent Islamist leader in Benghazi, who requested anonymity to avoid provoking more violence, said General Hifter was trying to lead the country to a dictatorship. “Does he want us to be slaves for Hifter?” he said. “We have no intention of backing down.”
Even some of General Hifter’s supporters appeared to be embracing him cautiously — mindful, perhaps, of his checkered history. Decades ago, General Hifter served in Colonel Qaddafi’s army, before defecting to the United States. After his return in 2011 to participate in the revolt against the dictatorship, he appointed himself as field commander, and then fell from favor with the rebel leadership.Even some of General Hifter’s supporters appeared to be embracing him cautiously — mindful, perhaps, of his checkered history. Decades ago, General Hifter served in Colonel Qaddafi’s army, before defecting to the United States. After his return in 2011 to participate in the revolt against the dictatorship, he appointed himself as field commander, and then fell from favor with the rebel leadership.
In a statement on Wednesday, Libya’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim al-Dabashi, praised the general’s effort as “patriotic.” But the military, he added, “should not interfere in politics.”In a statement on Wednesday, Libya’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim al-Dabashi, praised the general’s effort as “patriotic.” But the military, he added, “should not interfere in politics.”