Libya declares state of emergency

[jakeXT]

Source: Aljazeera

Libya has declared a state of emergency as the air force attacked gunmen in the remote south to end unrest between rival armed groups that have been clashing for days.

The General National Congress, Libya's highest political authority, took the decision on Saturday during an "extraordinary session" after the parliament put the army on alert as gunmen stormed the air force base, Tamenhant, near the southern city of Sabha, an official said.

...

Local sources said the clashes that started last week were sparked by the death of a rebel chief linked to the Awled Sleiman, adding that the tribe accused the Toubou of murdering him.

...

Western powers fear the OPEC producer will slide into instability as the government struggles to contain heavily-armed groups and tribesmen who helped topped Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 but refuse to disarm.

Read more: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/01/libya-declares-state-emergency-2014118194534208289.html

[pinto]

1. Wow. Much of the Mid-East and North Africa seem to fractionalizing.

[cosmicone]

2. Another example why some countries are not ripe for democracy

and are better off under dictators like Muammar Q'addafi, Hosny Mubarak and Saddam Hussain.

[Plucketeer]

3. How long before we join them? nt

[daleo]

4. I wonder who flew the planes?

I thought the west pretty much destroyed the Libyan Air Force a couple of years ago.

[jakeXT]

5. Some are still left

Prior to 2011, the Air Force had approximately 375 combat capable aircraft [420 combat aircraft in 2000], though more than half of the aircraft were non-operational, 50 armed helicopters (many in storage) and 90 transport aircraft (some in storage). Most of the equipment was of Soviet origin and some from the USA and France. Serviceability of aircraft and equipment had been drastically affected by the UN embargo ordered in April 1992.

As of mid-2012 it was reliably reported that Libya’s existing air force was reckoned to include around 28 aircraft, mainly Migs as well as some French Mirages, and nine helicopters, most of which originated in the Soviet Union.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/libya/af.htm