By Maha Suliman.
Bengnazi, 6 November 2014:
Khalifa Hafter, the controversial leader of Operation Dignity toured several Benghazi areas hardest hit . . .[restrict]in the recent fighting and declared the city safe.
Despite Hafter’s assertion, sporadic fighting continued into a third week, after pro-government forces re-entered the city. Mohammed Al-Hejazi the spokesman for Operation Dignity, which has been co-opted into the Libyan National Army (LNA), told the Libya Herald that clashes had taken place last night and this morning in the Laithi and Sabri districts.
A fire broke out at Benghazi’s Tibesti Hotel after a rocket struck its first floor causing only minor damage and nocasualties. The hotel, which became a focal point for protests during the revolution, is earmarked as the home of the House of Representatives. Hejazi claimed the rocket attack was deliberately meant to undermine the parliament and had been timed to coincide with the Supreme Court’s ruling on its legitimacy.
Hafter toured the districts of Ras Al-Baida, 20 Street and Sabri where fighting has raged for the past three days after pro-government forces attempted to secure Benghazi’s docks. The seaport still remains under the control of Ansar Al-Sharia and it allies.
Making a televised statement during the tour Hafter said the LNA had pacified Benghazi and would soon turn its attention to Tripoli and Derna.
Pro-government forces carried out airstrikes today on several targets in Garyounis, the Narh road and Guwarsha, Hejazi said.
Despite Hafter’s claims, large swathes of the west of the city including Guwarsha and parts of the city-centre remain under the control of the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council and are where heavy clashes are predicted in the coming weeks.
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