Premier’s brief “arrest” highlights anarchy in Libya

Saturday, 12 October 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

REUTERS: Libyan gunmen on the government payroll seized the Prime Minister in his nightshirt on Thursday and held him for several hours, in a new manifestation of the anarchy that has followed the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. The militia justified its bloodless dawn raid on the luxury hotel where Ali Zeidan lives under notionally tight security by saying he should be investigated for aiding US forces in their capture in Tripoli on Saturday of a Libyan al Qaeda suspect. But the liberal former diplomat has no shortage of critics among Islamist and other leaders for his failure to resolve strikes that have paralysed oil exports or to impose order since he was elected premier a year ago by the interim legislature. A morning of negotiations while Zeidan was held at an Interior Ministry office by a group employed by the state to provide security in Tripoli ended with him being freed unharmed and then pointedly avoiding criticism of his erstwhile captors. He called for “wisdom” and national unity and praised former anti-Gaddafi rebel groups for helping secure his release. Underlining the sense of chaos generated by such forces, still under arms two years after Gaddafi fell, members of the militia which seized Zeidan tried to deny their group’s involvement. “His kidnapping clearly indicates that his government is not cohesive, and that not only is his government not in control of the country, but that he is not in control of his government,” said Geoff Porter of North Africa Risk consulting. World oil prices rose more than 1% on speculation that Libyan crude experts would not quickly return to normal after weeks of disruption. Able to supply about 2% of world demand, and also a big supplier of gas to Europe, Libya’s six million people can look forward to considerable prosperity, but rivalries over control of resources has hampered investment. The killing 13 months ago of the US ambassador during an Islamist attack on Washington’s consulate in Benghazi drew world attention to Libya’s problems. But daily confrontations, including sieges in recent months of government ministries and oil installations, have posed greater problems for its rulers. US Secretary of State John Kerry said Zeidan’s abduction showed the need to build the capacity of the Libyan state, whose formal armed forces, made up of ex-Gaddafi troops and some of his enemies, have proven no match for mobile squads of gunmen riding pickup trucks bristling with heavy weaponry.