Libyan activists condemn siege of ministries

Libyan tribal elders, businessmen, political and social activists, and rebels of east Libya have condemned the recent outbreak of violence on the streets of Tripoli, and urged the security authorities to take control. Gunmen besieged two ministries last week and rejected government demands to disband, saying they are determined to stay put until authorities agree to their demand and sack former regime officials. In an emergency meeting in Benghazi on Saturday, Libyan delegates questioned the intentions of security personnel to deal with the attackers. "We need to know why the security chiefs are silent, and the involvement of some battalions in these attacks on state institutions," a statement read. Activists condemned the slackness of the Libyan legislature, the General National Congress (GNC), claiming the chamber's inefficiencies had pushed the country into a state of chaos. Social figures denounced the use of violence to hold the government to ransom, and said that the state must tackle the problem head-on. The Libyan army was deployed to Tripoli's main square on Friday to guard a pro-government rally and became involved in an uneasy stand-off with anti-government gunmen. The pro-government protesters were rallying against groups of gunmen who have taken control of two ministries in the capital.