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By Noora Ibrahim.
Benghazi, 1 July 2014:
Benghazi Joint Security Room (BJSR) has called on mediators to negiotiate with Ansar Al-Sharia to get them . . .[restrict]to leave the city’s Jalaa Hospital.
An Ansar group moved into the hospital and took over security ten days ago after BJSR forces pulled out. Three days ago, the BSJR ordered the total evacuation of the hospital, threatening to remove staff and patients by force if necessary. The hospital said that it was not possible. There have been reports, however, of staff and patients leaving, but these have been denied.
The Security Room yesterday asked Dr Awad Alqawiri, a member of both the new Benghazi Municipal Council and the city’s hospitals and clinics association to help resolve with the matter.
“We were asked to meet and negotiate with the gunmen,”Alqawiri said.
This morning there was a meeting at the municipal offices involving the BSJR and the association as well as council officials and representatives from the Ministry of Health at which it was agreed to coopt Mabrouk Shnieb, who heads a local conflict resolution group, to talk to Ansar.
There will be another meeting tomorrow, Alqawiri said to assess the situation.
The BRJR has reportedly given the mediators three days to ensure Ansar quits the hospital. [/restrict]
