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By Sami Zaptia.
Tripoli, 11 September 2013:
Speaking today at the Prime Ministerial press conference, acting Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sidiq . . .[restrict]Abdelkarim said that “the Benghazi explosion was a terrorist act”.
Abdelkarim was referring to the massive car-bomb that had exploded outside the Benghazi branch of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this morning in Benghazi, causing major structural damage to the building.
The explosion has fallen on the anniversary of the 2011 terrorist attacks in the US, which last year saw US ambassador to Libya Chris Stephens killed.
It is not known if the date is significant to today’s incident. However, a group calling itself the Islamic Emirate of Libya apparently posted a notice on its facebook page threatening attacks on various institutions across the country.
At today’s press conference Prime Minister Ali Zeidan seemed to link today’s Benghazi attack with the 9/11 anniversary.
Asked who was responsible for the attack, Zeidan as usual would not name anyone. He said that “the force that is responsible for the explosion is the force that does not want Libya to prosper and does not want the good life for Libyans”.
Acting Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sidiq Abdelkarim on the same matter said “we are taking action and security measures in Tripoli, Benghazi and other cities”.
“Libyans will witness action on the ground not just talk”, he promised, implicitly responding to popular accusations that the Zeidan government has been impotent in its efforts to repel terror attacks. “There will be more money for security in Benghazi and for other cities”, Abdelkarim added.
Abdelkarim said that if the message behind the explosion was an attempt to “terrorize Libyans”, it will not succeed as his government was determined to take action. [/restrict]
