For Libya U.N. deal, former rebel brigades mean success or failure

• published: 04 Nov 2015
• views: 1

MISRATA, Libya (Reuters) - In Misrata, a statue of a fist crushing a U.S. fighter jet that rebels seized as war bounty from Muammar Gaddafi's compound stands testimony to the city's part in Libya's 2011 revolution. Four years after they helped defeat Gaddafi, Misrata's armed brigades are expected to play their part among the former rebel forces, tribal fighters and other factions who will determine whether a U.N. plan to end Libya's crisis survives or fails. A conflict between two rival governments and parliaments -- a self-proclaimed body in Tripoli and the internationally recognized set-up in the east -- has left the North African nation effectively partitioned. After months of talks, the United Nations has offered a deal to create a power-sharing government to represent each faction and reflect Libya's traditional balance among its regions and cities. But even if political leaders agree -- that is still far from clear -- it will be the brigades of former rebels in Tripoli, Misrata, Zintan and those in the east who decide how a political settlement works out on the ground. The importance of Misrata, a port city and regional economic power, was underlined last year when it backed the takeover of Tripoli from rival factions to establish the self-proclaimed government there. Now most of Misrata's brigades -- including the powerful Al-Majoub and Halbous units -- support the U.N. deal. "This is the only solution. There is no a way through arms," said Ismail AlMjaree, a brigade commander in Misrata. "There is a new awareness among revolutionaries, they are asking: 'Why are we still fighting, why isn't the country being built?'" Libya's post-revolt history though is not encouraging. In the past two years, armed brigades have invaded Tripoli's parliament to oppose political decisions, taken over ministries and even kidnapped a prime minister. With no national army after the fall of Gaddafi, the rebel brigades were incorporated into quasi-official military units, assigned to ministries and government offices. Tens of thousands of fighters are on the state payroll. But as the post-Gaddafi transition fragmented along regional lines, those brigades often stayed more loyal to commanders, tribes or cities than to the idea of a Libyan state. Less than 18 months ago, Misrata brigades battled in Tripoli with rivals from the western city of Zintan, who had controlled the airport since 2011. That conflict forced the Zintan fighters out and destroyed the international airport. Most diplomats left the capital. you need more information to open that links .. https://www.facebook.com/gloriousmomentsvideos https://plus.google.com/u/0/112161599156329954687/posts https://twitter.com/glorious_moment