Control regained over Interior Ministry

Tripoli, 11 July 2013:

The Interior Ministry, closed for a week after the premises were besieged by militiamen, was yesterday back under . . .[restrict]government control.

The complex of buildings on Tripoli’s Airport Road was secured on Tuesday night. The ministerial committee in charge of implementing the GNC’s resolution to rid Tripoli of armed militias, headed by Electricity Minister Ali Mohammed Muhairiq, apparently reached an agreement with the militia.

Armed men besieged the Ministry on 2 July and remained there for three days, barricading the entrance with sand. The demands of the militiamen were unclear, but some had said they would remain until the Libyan authorities dismantled the Supreme Security Committee (SSC).

Regaining control of the Ministry came just one day after the release of three photographers who were abducted outside the Ministry. Two other civil rights activists were released on Saturday.

The ministry of interior has now asked all employees to return to their offices, according to Libyan news agency LANA. [/restrict]