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By Noora Ibrahim and Ahmed Elumami.
Benghazi and Tripoli, 26 November 2013:
Three Benghazi congressmen were manhandled by protestors who had stormed a . . .[restrict]meeting in the city between security and military leaders and a large congressional delegation.
Members of Benghazi civil society organisations forced their way into the room in the headquarters of the oil company Agoco, where the meeting was being held. They demanded that three of the city’s congressmen, Mohammed Busidra, Sulaiman Zubi and Saleh Joudah be ejected.
The trio had been among a delegation of 65 members of congress, led by Deputy President Ezzidine Al-Awami, that had flown from Tripoli . Among those they met were Chief of Staff Abdulsalam Jadallah Al-Obaidi, Saiqa commander Wanis Bukhamada and deputy acting interior minister Bahloul Al-Said.
It is understood that the three congressmen left the meeting and have returned to Tripoli.
Congressman Congressman Omar Hemidan, who is also the GNC spokesman said that the delegation had come to discuss yesterday’s clashes between the Saiqa special forces and “other groups”. He said that the lawmakers were anxious to find a way to calm the situation.
Bukhamada said that the enforcement of Laws 27 and 53 on the removal of illegal formations would continue. After 31 December, any militias which had not disbanded would be “illegitimate”. He added that his special forces would use force against any group that used attacked the police or army.
After the meeting, Benghazi congressman Ahmad Langhi told the Libya Herald: “ We listened to Benghazi’s security and military leaders’ demands and requirements for new equipment. We asked them to write out those demands so we can discuss them with the government later”. Langhi added that the commanders had emphasised to their congressional visitors that they regarded any attack the security forces “as a red line”. [/restrict]
