By Jamie Prentis.
Tunis, 3 July 2017:
The education minister in Presidency Council’s government of national accord came under fire this morning when his convoy was shot at by an unidentified group as it passed by a checkpoint south of Sebha its way to Murzuk.
Otman Abdul Jalil was whisked away by some of his security team from Checkpoint 17 but the unknown militia briefly detained other members. They were later released following the intervention of local elders. One person is believed to have been slightly injured but no other casualties have been reported.
Abdul Jalil later arrived in Murzuk and the education ministry thanked Tebu militiamen who accompanied him.
In Sebha, he had been part of the delegation led by the interior minister attempting yet further moves to bridge the divide between leaders of the Tebu and Awlad Sulaiman communities.
As part of the visit, talks were also held to discuss the issues facing the town of Obari, battered after long periods of tribal conflict.
The same delegation, which was included the ministers of local government and labour, also took part in a ceremony yesterday to hand over Sebha Airport to the local offices of the National Security Directorate. It has been closed since January 2014. No date has been set for its reopening.
