Libya, battle for Bani Walid divides population
Tripoli
(AsiaNews) - In the battle for the conquest of Bani Walid, the last stronghold
of the tribes loyal to Gaddafi, there is no room for diplomacy. Last
night, the Misrata militias blocked the diplomatic car of Megaryef Mohammed,
president of the Libyan National Assembly, appointed by the government in a last
effort at mediation with tribal leaders reluctant to surrender the city to the
army considered too close to the rebels. The
leaders of the Warfalla tribes, to which Gaddafi belonged and the largest in
Libya, fear for their lives, citing the massacre of Tawarga, another city loyal
to Gaddafi razed in October 2011 by the Misrata militias.
The
siege of the last stronghold loyal to the regime, however, is dividing Libya. Sources
tell AsiaNews that external forces are
at work to keep the country in chaos and prevent a true reconciliation. "The
Libyans - they explain - especially young people, are tired of war, which has brought
the country back 50 years and sparked fratricidal hate between families." Following
the example of the people of Benghazi, on October 16, several young men of
Misurata stormed arms depots in the hands of militias that control the city. The
action slowed down the attack on Bani Walid for a few days, which is considered
by many as "a pointless bloodshed."
Against
the guerrillas' weapons, many Libyans are responding with gestures of
solidarity towards their fellow citizens. AsiaNews
sources confirm that several cities anonymously sent aid to the Gaddafi
stronghold. In
recent days, the hospitals of Tripoli, Misurata and Benghazi have it delivered
to a small neutral delegation packages with medicine, food and basic
necessities. "The
delivery - specify the sources - occurred in secret. The people are afraid of the militia and fear
reprisals." In
parallel to military initiatives, associations and humanitarian organizations
run by young Libyans are also growing. The
most recent is the organization "No Name - No limits" founded on 12
September in Tripoli to help families affected by the war, without distinction
of tribes or factions.
The
struggle to defeat the remnants of tribes loyal to Gaddafi began on October 17
without the permission of the army, and has already cost 11 dead and hundreds
injured. The
attack took place a year after the liberation of the city by the Islamist
rebels of Misrata. They
have laid siege to the birthplace of Gaddafi since September and have announced
they will avenge the death of Omar ben Shaaban, 22, mastermind of Gaddafi's
capture, who was killed Sept. 25 by the guerrillas of Bani Walid. (S.C.)
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21/10/2011
