Tripoli, 22 January 2013:
Dozens of security personnel forced their way into the General National Congress building today, Tuesday, demanding that the Chief of Staff, General Yousef Mangoush, be replaced.
The President of Congress, Mohamed Magarief, met with them to discuss their complaints.
There have been previous complaints against Mangoush but he has managed to survive them all.
Mangoush joined the revolution at the beginning, in February 2011, having taken early retirement from Qaddafi’s forces in 1999. He was later captured by Qaddafi forces and taken to Tripoli where he was held captive until the city was liberated.
It is unclear whether the appointment of a Chief of Staff lies with Congress or with the government via the Defence Ministry. However, Mangoush was chosen on 2 January 2012 by the then National Transitional Council, which would strengthen Congress’ claims to appoint. In any event, it is likely to insist that any successor to Mangoush would have to be endorsed by it. [/restrict]
