By Ajnadin Mustafa.
Tripoli, 3 November 2015:
Members of Tripoli Revolutionaries’ Brigade (TRB), controlled by Haithem Tajouri were reported last night to have . . .[restrict]broken into the Prime Ministry building on the capital’s Triq Al-Sikka (Railway Road) after clashing with members of Misrata’s Mahjoub Brigade protecting it. After a brief occupation, they are said to have left with piles of papers, returning to their base, the Al-Naam camp, in Tajoura.
It is not known if there were any casualties in the clashes.
The attack, the latest in a series of developments indicating deepening rivalries within Libya Dawn, is said to have been prompted by reports that Tripoli prime minister Khalifa Ghwell had ordered the arrest of Tajouri. The decision followed yesterday morning’s seizure by the TRB of Ghwell’s planning minster, Ahmed Al-Ghadar.
In a statement, the TRB claimed it had arrested him on suspicion of corruption.
Officials supporting Ghwell. while admitting the attack, claim that Tajouri’s forces did not get into the building and were forced to withdraw. The denial, however, cannot be relied on. In efforts to convince public opinion that it is fully in charge of the capital, the Tripoli regime has on several occasions issued denials about reported security problems in the city that then turned out to be untrue.
Regardless of whether Tajouri’s men entered the building, the attack has left residents nervous and expecting a counter-attack by Misratan forces against the TRB later today.
On social media, Misratan voices have been demanding action. Others say that the attack throws in question the plans of the Libya Dialogue to use Misratan forces to protect the Tripoli when the Government of National Accord takes over. They note that if the forces cannot secure the Prime Ministry, how can they secure the city.
Ghwell is now reported to have issued a fresh order to arrest Haithem Tajouri and dissolve the TRB. [/restrict]
