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By Noura Ibrahim.
Benghazi, 24 June 2014:
Reports that the leader of Ansar Al-Sharia in Benghazi has died in Jelaa hospital have been . . .[restrict]denied by a medical official in the hospital.
Earlier in the day intelligence sources told the Libya Herald that it had been confirmed that Muhammad Al-Zahawi had died in the hospital after being badly injured yesterday in a bombing raid by Operation Dignity forces. The source said, however, that he could not say exactly where or when Zahawi was supposed to have been wounded.
A medical official at the hospital, however, said there was no truth to the story. “When I heard the report, I checked out every room myself. He is not here,” the official said
Rumours that a major Ansar figure was being treated in the hospital began to circulate yesterday when the Islamist militia moved in and took over security. Some observers felt there was more to this than concern about protecting the hospital, especially since it left Ansar in an exposed position.
The militia was still providing protection at the hospital, the official said this evening. [/restrict]
