Islamic Spring–
Radical Islamist groups including Shariah Guardians Brigade, an Al-Qaeda linked group, held a massive military parade in Benghazi 90 days before US Ambassador Chris Stevens was slaughtered at the US Consulate. On Friday pro-Salafist protesters held another rally.
A damaged police car outside a security forces building which was attacked by a crowd of protesters in Benghazi on Friday. Authorities in Libya thwarted plans for a huge demonstration in support of the militia in the capital Tripoli on Friday. (Gulf News)
On Friday pro-Salafist demonstrators rallied in Benghazi.
Then they lobbed grenades at security forces and torched cars.
Star Africa reported:
Libyan demonstrators lobbed hand grenades at security forces and set cars ablaze after a rally in Benghazi on Friday in support of a hardline Salafist group which was evicted from the second city.
More than 200 men converged on Benghazi’s Al-Jalaa Hospital, which was guarded by members of Ansar al-Sharia until Friday of last week, when anti-militia protesters forced them out, an AFP correspondent reported.
“We want Ansar al-Sharia to come back and protect this hospital,” a placard read.
The crowd then marched on a nearby security forces building.
Interior ministry forces fired warning shots in the air from inside the base. Demonstrators responded by throwing hand grenades at the outer walls and torching two parked cars.
Troops arrived quickly on the scene and the crowd dispersed. Some 25 soldiers took up position around the building.
“There is no loss of life — we have taken control of the situation,” General Manaa bin Hamid of the army’s newly created National Mobile Force told AFP. He added that the identity of the assailants was unknown.
The rally comes a week after mass demonstrations against militias ended in the eviction of several paramilitary groups from Benghazi, cradle of the 2011 revolt that toppled Moamer Kadhafi…
…Violence last Friday killed 11 people in Benghazi.
Aljazeera has more on the violent pro-Salafist protest.
Related… For security reasons, FBI agents are staying away from the Libyan city where a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed. They still have not investigated the terror scene.
