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By Ayman Amzain.
Benghazi, 19 April 2013:
Some 700 people joined a demonstration in Benghazi today, calling for unity, transitional justice and national . . .[restrict]reconciliation.
The protest, staged under the banner “Friday Libya for All” was supposed to be part of a series of nationwide gatherings, but it appeared that Benghazi, where the the idea was born, was the only city to see significant numbers take to the streets.
The demonstrators, who assembled in front of the Tibesti Hotel, carried banners which also demanded an end to militias and secret prisons, greater financial transparency in government and improved security.
“Friday Libya for All” had attracted considerable advance attention, thanks to the stunt of using a military helicopter to scatter thousands of leaflets over the city, advertising today’s event. The commander of the helicopter squadron based at the city’s Benina airbase is currently under investigation, while the incident has prompted a sharp reminder from Libyan Chief-of-Staff Major-General Yousef Mangoush, that the duty of the armed forces is to remain neutral and not to become mixed up in politics of any sort. [/restrict]
