Sirte, 3 September:
One of Libya’s largest tribes, the Forjan, has called on residents of Sirte to erect the independence flag above their houses and to join the 17 February revolution.
Many members of the tribe had previously supported the Qaddafi regime during last year’s uprising.
It is reported that Sirte residents have also burned a number of green flags, copies of the Green Book and pictures of the former dictator.
The Forjan, which holds considerable influence in and around Muammar Qaddafi’s hometown, also issued a warning that it was prepared to use force against anyone seeking to disrupt state security.
On 1 September, the Supreme Security Committee arrested a group of men accused of involvement in a recent RPG attack on a power plant in the area. The men, who are accused of being Qaddafi loyalists, also threw a grenade at a SSC vehicle, wounding those inside.
The Forjan tribe called upon all associates of Qaddafi to desist in carrying out bombings and other acts of sabotage and declated that any Sirte resident found to be involved in such activity would be declared an outlaw within the city. [/restrict]
