Libya: Clearing Tripoli of weapons is a national mission

Libya seems well on its way to political reform Tripoli – Emad Agag Libyan Minister of the Interior Fauzi Abdel Aal stated on Thursday that clearing Tripoli of arms was a national mission that all ministries should participate in, including the Ministry of Defence . The minister also said that clearing Tripoli of its arms was a strenuous task that would demand help from all ministries including defence
.Sources said that civil society movements called on citizens in the city to come out in peaceful protest to demand the end of arms-bearing in Libya's capital. Demonstrators gathered in Al-Shohadaa square demanded the dissolution of military councils and rebel battallions, stressing that all weapon carriers should have a permit.
Libya’s capital was rocked by protests on Wednesday and Thursday as residents expressed their frustrations at the rebels.
Less than three months after Muammar Gaddafi’s ousting, Tripolitans are tiring of the rebels lax attitude to law and order and have expressed their fear of arms freely circulating around the town.
Protesters gathered in the renamed Martyr’s square to demand that those currently holding arms be regulated and carry permit in a bid to limit the number of arms carriers."We're protesting against weapons and people using weapons. I want the militias who came from outside Tripoli to leave. They have to go back to their homes and continue with their studies," said one woman holding a placard
Around her the crowd chanted "The people want safety!"
 The minister said he understood the people’s protesters and vowed to address their concerns.
Protesters held banners calling for dropping arms and working on building a state of law, saying that the battle of arms had ended and now the battle for reform and civilisation should begin. In addition, they demanded the formation of the Free National Army.
Demonstrators declared their support for the Transitional Council and Abdurrahim El-Keeb’s government, calling on Libyan citizens to stand with the government and help establish rule of law, build institutions, achieve security and stability, and provide a decent life to the Libyan people.
They stressed that they will continue holding strikes and sit-ins until they achieved their goal, saying that revolutionaries from outside Tripoli were welcome in their city and capital as long as they did not bear arms. They thanked them for their role and contribution in liberating Libya and preserving security and safety at the beginning of Tripoli’s fall.
 Aal also said that the military had to be reduced, a redistribution of checkpoints set up by revolutionaries was needed.
The minister also said he believed that the revolutionaries wanted to direct a message to particular entities, and that the message had been delivered.
"I believe matters will end peacefully," he said.