Demonstrations took pace across Libya on Monday, 5 March, . . .[restrict]the first anniversary of the setting up of the National Transitional Council. The aims of the demon stations differed from place to place. In Tripoli there were protesting the continued presence of military brigades and in particular of the Zintan-brigade and its leader Mukhtar Al-Lakhdar who controls Tripoli airtport. Another focus of protest in the capital was Abdullar Naker, also from Zintan; he heads the Tripoli Revolutionary Council and last week set up his Al-Qimma (The Summit/Pinnacle) party.
Demonstrators called on the “thuwar” (the revolutionaries) to return to civilian work or join the army or police, claiming that their continued separate existence stood in the way of the establishing of a civil state. Banners proclaimed “Yes to the government, No to armed militias”, “Yes to the security and freedom”, “Libyan women support the government”, “No to bearing arms” and many more similar demands.
Other demonstrations were about the issue of whether or not Libya should be a federal state. Some were for, others against. In Benghazi, there were pro- and anti-federal demonstations. The subject has become a hot issue in Libya.
[/restrict]
