By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 7 October 2013:
Reaction to the seizure of Nazih Al-Ruqaii (alias Abu Anas Al-Libi) by either American forces or . . .[restrict]a group of Libyans operating on behalf of the Americans gathered some momentum today although it was less strident than might have been expected.
The National Forces Alliance, led by former Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, put out a statement condemning the US for undermining of Libyan sovereignty. What had happened was “a clear violation of the UN charter”. However, it also said that it condemned those involved in terrorism and extremism – a reference to Ruqaii – and noted that the government had already shown that it was incapable of protecting Libyans and Libya’s sovereignty.
The incident demonstrated the need to build a strong army, it said – something that various parties, it alleged, had tried to prevent. It called on Libya’s allies – those that helped it topple the Qaddafi regime (which includes the US) to aid it “in reconstructing its institutions and to hold a national comprehensive dialogue”.
Almost the exact same measured message came from the Muslim Brotherhood. It too blamed the prime minister for the violation of sovereignty which is said could “lead the country to a battlefield of score-settling”, and also said that if there were a case against Ruqaii, it should be brought before a Libyan court. It called on Congress to appoint a legal team to follow the case and bring charges against those involved as well as to ensure a fair trial for Ruqaii.
On phone-ins on Libyan radio stations today, ordinary Libyans took a not dissimilar view. There was criticism and anger but not so much at the abduction as at the notion that the government had allowed the US to do it – something it has vigorously denied although Americans officials claim the government was aware of what was planned.
Meanwhile, the National Council for Civil Liberties and Human Rights, said it strongly condemned the kidnapping and placed “full responsibility” on the government for not providing protection for its citizens and respect of them on its territory. It also condemned “the undermining the Libyan state sovereignty and the muscle flexing towards a member state of the international community.”
In Benghazi, several dozen people demonstrated in front of the Tibesti Hotel at Ruqaii’s abduction, portraying it as the kidnapping of faithful Muslim by Christian infidels in which the Prime Minister was complicit. Some were angry with the General National Congress for not taking more forceful action against the US, such as breaking diplomatic relations.
A statement purporting to come from “the thuwar of Benghazi, Beida and Derna” took as similar view. It too accused the government of complicity in the abduction which, it claimed “broke the hearts of those who care about their country”. It proclaimed that the thuwar were “duty bound” to fight those who betrayed the country and threatened retaliation against the government.
It is not thought that the latter view is widely supported.
Meanwhile members of his family have claimed that Ruqaii was a changed man and had bee willing to appear in court in Libya on charges relating to his time with Al-Qaeda.
According his wife, he had been a close associate of Osama Bin Laden, acting as Bin Laden’s personal guard at one point. But, she said, he had left Al-Qaeda in 1996 and requested political asylum in Britain where he spent two years before moving to Iran. He then returned to Libya with his wife, three daughters and five sons, one of whom, named Abdul-Rahman, was killed in Tripoli during the liberation of Tripoli on 23 August 2011.
According to Nazih’s son, Abdullah, his father was a very ordinary person living in the Tripoli district of Nufleen who enjoyed good relationship with everyone. “My father kept close contact with the Libyan authorities, especially with the Minister of Justice, on the US charges against him and he expressed a willingness to appear before the Libyan judiciary in any investigations or charges,” the son is quoted as saying.
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