09/22/2012, 00.00
LIBYA - ISLAM
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Young Libyans attack Salafi militants base

The people, tired of the violence and armed gangs, burned the headquarters of Ansar al-Sharia, the group suspected of killing U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. The population refuses to accept the militia oppression or imposition of a fundamentalist Islam.

Benghazi (AsiaNews) - Hundreds of young demonstrators attacked the headquarters of Ansar al-Shariah, one of the most extremist Islamic groups, hunting militants and setting fire to the building. The attack took place late last night, after a day of protests attended by tens of thousands of people to "save Benghazi." The rally was organized to criticize violence in the city, which led to the murder of U.S. ambassador Chris Stevens, three members of his staff, along with 10 Libyan guards in the U.S. consulate. In fact Ansar al-Shariah is suspected of having attacked the U.S. consulate, on September 11, taking advantage of the demonstrations against the anti-Islam film, produced in the United States.

The headquarters of Ansar al-Shariah was surrounded by the crowd shouting "No to armed militias!" Militiamen sought first to fire shots in the air, but then were forced to flee.

A similar attack against another militia base in the city, the Sahaty brigade, led to three deaths. Anti-militia demonstrators and police clashed for two hours, until the armed group fled. In another incident one person was killed.

Anti-militia demonstrations are something new in the Libyan panorama. People are frustrated by the lack of security, following the fall of Gaddafi. Many Islamic groups, which helped to put an end to the Colonel's dictatorship, have refused to disarm or accept to enter in law enforcement. They often act like bands of outlaws, attacking groups and people who do not obey their vision of a fundamentalist Islam.

 

 

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