Slain Libyan rebel commander's supporters stage oil port protest
Slain Libyan rebel commander's supporters stage oil port protest
A Libyan tribe has staged a protest at an eastern oil port in protest against the appointment of a new government minister accused of killing a fellow rebel leader.
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Members of the Obeidi tribe protested against the appointment of Ali Essawi [AFP]
Members of Libya's Obeidi tribe on Thursday gathered at the eastern oil port of Hariga to protest against the appointment of a minister accused of killing a former rebel leader.
The protest followed of Ali Essawi, who was named in 2011 by prosecutors as the main suspect in the killing of Abdel Fattah Younes, as economy minister for Libya's Tripoli-based government.
"We are at the port's gate. No car can enter or leave the port," a member of the Obeidi tribe told Reuters.
It was unclear whether oil exports from the port were affected, the London-based news agency reported.
In 2012, a Libyan court dropped the case against Essawi and other suspects. Allegations against him came back to the spotlight when Tripoli-based Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj appointed him to the cabinet.
A fresh investigation into Younes' killing was ordered earlier this week by Khalifa Haftar, a military strongman whose forces control the country's east.
A former member of Muammar Gaddafi's inner circle, Younes defected in 2011 and assumed the role of military chief for the anti-Gaddafi forces. This proved controversial among some rebel factions who had suffered abuses under the deposed regime.
A former member of Muammar Gaddafi's inner circle, Younes defected in 2011 and assumed the role of military chief for the anti-Gaddafi forces. This proved controversial among some rebel factions who had suffered abuses under the deposed regime.
Younes was killed in 2011 after being summoned back to Benghazi by rebel leaders.
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