By Libya Herald reporters.
Tripoli/Tunis, 17 September 2015:
Armed men are reported to have stormed the General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli this . . .[restrict]afternoon as it met to discuss acceptance of the amended Libya Dialogue Draft and to propose names for the posts of prime minister and deputy prime minister.
It is reported, but unconfirmed, that those behind the attack are Dialogue opponents Salah Badi, Sami Saadi and Abdurraouf Al-Manaie.
Guns were said to have been fired into the air and fist-fighting inside the chamber. There were also reports, similarly unconfirmed, that at least one member was seized. He was said be Abdulgassem Gzeit, a prominent support of the Dialogue. However, he later appeared on TV claiming that the storming had been carried out with the connivance of the president, Nuri Abu Sahmain.
Misrata’s Haboos brigade was said have been ordered to go and protect the GNC.
Earlier, as if in anticipation of a possible attack from opponents of a deal, military vehicles had surrounded the GNC building in Tripoli today with roads closed off to the public.
Although UN Special Envoy Bernardino Leon has amended the Dialogue Draft in line with all the demands presented by the GNC, there are voices within and outside the GNC still opposed to the deal. These include not only Badi, Saadi and Al-Manaie (who has threatened legal action against anyone who approves it) but also GNC president Nuri Abu Sahmain and the controversial Grand Mufti Sheikh Sadek Al-Gharian.
They all insist Leon accept that the GNC is Libya’s sole legitimate legislature. Ghariani was reported yesterday saying that forces must rally to the GNC, that it was the only legislature and that the Dialogue deal must be rejected.
Leon had given the GNC delegates until yesterday to return with approval and with their list of candidates.
Meanwhile the House of Representatives (HoR) Dialogue team is seen as split over the amended Draft. The HoR has rejected the changes, calling back its delegates to Tobruk, and is to debate the matter on Sunday. Two have returned, Sadiq Idris Mohamed and Saleh Huma. However, Emhemed Shouaib, the Deputy President of HoR and head of the team and Abubakr Baera, have remained in Skhirat. [/restrict]
