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By Taher Zarooq and Ahmed Elumami.
Misrata,Tripoli, 4 February 2014:
Local leaders and officials in Misrata have announced their support for the General . . .[restrict]National Congress (GNC) saying that it is the source of legitimate power in the country. The announcement is a response to the perception that Congress ought to be dissolved on 7 February and concerns that some groups may try to use force to achieve that end.
In a statement made on Sunday, leaders of Misrata’s Shoura, Military and Local Councils and members of the city’s civil society organisations said that any illegitimate removal of Congress would plunge Libya into chaos. They added that the GNC needed to quickly issue a roadmap outlining the political path for the country according to a specific timetable.
In fact, it did so on Monday, although under the proposed roadmap, it could remain in office until September next year.
The roadmap rests on the condition that the new constitution is drafted and ratified by referendum before that date.
The Misratan leaders said that the legitimacy of the state and its security were “red lines”, calling on revolutionaries to be ready to protect them.
They added that they felt the country had been experiencing attacks from movements fuelled by “the enemies of the 17 February revolution”. [/restrict]
