Pro-government Protest Attacked in Libya

{{Hundreds of Libyan pro-democracy advocates have come under attack by supporters of a law to exclude Gaddafi-era officials from top government jobs, in the latest sign of the turmoil that threatens the country’s first elected authorities.}}

Several hundred people gathered in Tripoli’s central Algeria Square on Friday to protest against armed groups that have been laying siege to the justice and foreign ministries to call for the sacking of officials from the ousted regime of Muammar Gaddafi.

Protesters waved placards reading “The era of the militias is over” and “Attacks on the ministries are attacks on the Libyan people” as well as “No to weapons, yes to dialogue.”

The crowd marched to Martyrs’ Square where they were attacked by demonstrators calling for the adoption of the law to exclude Gaddafi-era officials from top government posts, although no one was hurt.

The main demonstration then left the square for the prime minister’s office to “express Tripolitans’ solidarity with the government and the legitimate authorities in the country,” an organiser said.

Libya’s army had taken up positions earlier on Friday at strategic sites around the capital, and soldiers in pickup trucks mounted with machineguns were also deployed on Martyrs’ Square ahead of the protests.

{aljazeera}