Rogue Libyan general's troops attack parliament

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-EXCITE

By ESAM MOHAMED

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Forces loyal to a rogue Libyan general attacked the country's parliament Sunday, expanding his eastern offensive against Islamists into the heart of the country's capital. The attack forced lawmakers to flee under a barrage of heavy gunfire and black smoke rose over the parliament.

The violence, three years after the 2011 civil war that toppled dictator Moammar Gadhafi, threatens to further splinter a country dominated by militias.

The troops of Gen. Khalifa Hifter targeted Islamist lawmakers and officials, his spokesman Mohammed al-Hegazi told Libya's al-Ahrar television station. Al-Hegazi said Hifter blames the officials for allowing extremists forces to exert considerable influence in the country.

His troops struck two Islamists militia bases Friday in Benghazi, the country's second-largest city, setting off clashes that killed 70 people, Libya's Health Ministry said.

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Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140518/ml-libya-5cdb9593fa.html

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In this Saturday, May 17, 2014 photo, Libyan Gen. Khalifa Hifter addresses a press conference in Benghazi, Libya. The death toll from fighting over the weekend in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi between troops loyal to Hifter, a rogue general, and Islamist militias has risen to at least 70, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. In a statement late Saturday, Libya's interim prime minister, parliament speaker and the head of military warned Hifter against further pursuing his offensive and threatened the troops cooperating with him. (AP Photo/Mohammed el-Shaiky)