Troops Deploy in Libyan Capital as Militias Ordered Out
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Troops deployed in Tripoli on Monday after militias were ordered to leave the capital following deadly weekend clashes sparked by protest against rebels.
The unrest in Tripoli was the deadliest in the capital since the uprising and erupted when former rebels from Misrata opened fire on protesters, triggering the clashes that killed at least 43 people and wounded 450.
As the capital observed a three-day period of mourning on Sunday, gunmen had seized the deputy head of Libya's intelligence services Mustafa Nuh near Tripoli airport.
But his abductors released him on Monday, an intelligence official told AFP.
"Nuh has been freed today (Monday)," the source said on condition of anonymity, without elaborating.
The abduction of Nuh, who is himself originally from Misrata, came amid persistent tensions between armed groups from his hometown and rival groups in Tripoli.
On Sunday, community leaders, officials and former rebel commanders from Misrata urged the "withdrawal of all ex-rebels from the city of Misrata who are in Tripoli, whatever their group is ... in under 72 hours," in a statement issued late Sunday.
In the streets of the capital itself, dozens of soldiers and armoured vehicles deployed on Monday in response to the violence.
The Misrata brigade at the heart of the latest violence saw some of the heaviest fighting during the uprising against Kadhafi, when Misrata was besieged by regime forces.
