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Tripoli, 10 March 2013:
The Interior Ministry is reported to have agreed today, Sunday, to provide full security in future for Congress, . . .[restrict]according to a number of its members. The decision follows Tuesday’s assault when as many as 600 armed demonstrators tried to force members into passing the controversial Political Isolation Law.
They had been meeting at at temoorary venue, the Meteorological Institute in south Tripoli, because Congress’ chamber had been trashed by thuwar amputees who had occupied it for the past month.
Members caught up in Tuesday’s events have said there was no security at the meeting.
Yesterday, Congress President Mohamed Magarief announced a temporarily suspension of full sessions and a number of Congress members had said they would not attend any full session until they could meet in safety.
A full session is, however, planned for next Sunday, 17 March. It is not know if it will be back at the normal Congress chamber. However, the Interior Ministry is reported to have given assurances today that it could secure the building, next to the Rixos Hotel.
Yesterday’s decision to suspend full sessions was not voted on but a number of members have told the Libya Herald that it had their full approval. Some said that they had informed Magrief they would not attend full sessions unless security was improved.
Early last month, following the storming and occupation of Congress by the thuwar amputees, the Interior Ministry Ashour Shuwail had said that the ministry was not responsible for the legislature’s security and the GNC had its own presidential security guards to manage the task. [/restrict]
