By Ashraf Abdul-Wahab.
Tripoli, 5 July 2014:
There were clashes this morning in Janzour after security forces under the command of the Minisry of . . .[restrict]the Interior stopped a member of the local Fursan Janzour (Knights of Janzour) Brigade around dawn at a checkpoint on the Ghiran roundabout at the end of the highway, not far from Palm City.
According to the security forces, the man was driving a vehicle without registrations plates and with darkened windows, had no papers on him and had in his possession a gun.
According to a Brigade statement, the man had papers on him, and the four at the checkpoint – it said they were members of the Zintani Sawaq Brigade – treated him aggressively, accusing him of stealing the gun, and arrested him.
In a separate statement, however, the ministry says the checkpoint guards told him to go away and bring back his identity papers, and that he did return but with colleagues who started shooting at the guards.
The result was a series of shootouts involving several dozen militiamen and security officials which moved from place to place in the area.
Nobody has been reported injured, although there was some damage to property. No one was arrested, including the Fursan brigade commander.
The clashes died down by 10am this morning – “when they decided it was time to go to bed,” according to one local resident.
Meanwhile, a 13-year-old girl is reported to have been kidnapped in Janzour this morning. Nairjes Naisan, from the Saraj area, went shopping close to her home and has not been seen since. The police have launched an investigation. [/restrict]
