Initial fears of violence between marchers and a counter-demonstration by
members of Ansar al-Sharia proved unfounded as the Islamists were heavily
outnumbered. They have denied killing Mr Stevens, but said he was preparing
the way for American intervention in Libya, and also referred to the
anti-Islam film circulating the internet.
But after the rally ended, some of the protesters, with police and army
apparently in support, marched on Ansar al-Sharia bases. They cleared them
from in front of the Al-Jala Hospital, which they had been guarding, so that
by late evening the anti-aircraft guns mounted on pick-up trucks that had
been the basis of hospital security had disappeared.
They then stormed the main compounds of the group, setting on fire to cars
inside. The group, whose name translates as “Supporters of Sharia”,
fired in the air but did not mount a major resistance.
“Libya, Libya,” the protesters shouted, saying they wanted to put an end
to al-Qaeda and demanding that militia members sign up to the army as
individuals, not allow their leaders to maintain their separate identity.
After finishing with Ansar al-Sharia, some protesters moved further out of
town and took on a base said to belong to the Rafallah al-Sehati Battalion,
a Salafist group that is notionally allied to the government and in
particular to the February 17 Brigade, a less militant outfit whose leaders
are very powerful in the new Libya.
They fought back, firing into the crowd, which was largely unarmed. At one
stage, soldiers were reported to have intervened. At least three of the dead
were killed in this battle, which ended with the Islamist group leaving
before dawn.
The action of the protesters will relieve some of the pressure on the Obama
administration to take swift action in reponse to the death of Mr Stevens.
Officials in Washington have now largely dropped the version of events initially
put out, that his killing and that of three other American staff was the
result of a protest against the film that got out of hand. Libyan
eye-witnesses said there were no protests before the consulate building was
attacked on three sides by scores of men waving black Islamic flags and
carrying rocket-propelled grenade launchers and automatic rifles.
Militia and military leaders have been meeting members of the interim government
and the newly elected prime minister, Mustafa Abushagur, in Tripoli this
week to discuss how to deal with Ansar al-Sharia, or at least the members
said to have been involved in the consulate attack.
American officials believe some may have been in contact with Al-Qaeda, and
Hillary Clinton called the incident a “terrorist attack” for the
first time on Friday.
The capture of the base was celebrated elsewhere in the city by parades of
cars touring the streets, honking their horns.
Source:
http://www.ezonearticle.com/2012/09/22/libya-benghazi-crowds-drive-out-islamist-militants/
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