Libya: Series of Assassinations in Benghazi

A series of assassinations in Benghazi in eastern Libya have mostly targeted former members of the Qaddafi regime. The attacks may be motivated by revenge. But they could be an attempt to increase the influence of the east within the government.

Over the last several weeks unknown attackers have targeted a number of persons associated with the former Qaddafi regime even though in many cases the targets defected quite early to the rebel side. Many targets had been associated with Qaddafi's internal Security Organization.
Qaddafi brutally repressed Islamic militants during his reign in power an aspect of his rule that actually pleased many in the west. Members of repressed groups may now be exacting vengeance on those who formerly were associated with this repression. However, the fact that the assassinations all took place in the east may indicate a different purpose.
The eastern part of Libya used to be a separate country Cyrenacia. Under Qaddafi this area felt underrepresented and unfairly treated. Power was concentrated in Tripoli and the central government. The east is seeking a degree of autonomy in the new Libya. The assassinations may be aimed at weakening the power of the central government and weakening its intelligence capabilities as well as its power within the government.
As well as assassinations there have been other important violent activities in eastern Libya. Two IED's exploded at the military intelligence building in Benghazi on August 1. On July 31st gunmen broke into a Benghazi prison and freed Salem al-Obeidi who claims to have killed in 2011 Major General Younis who was the highest ranking defector from the Qaddafi regime and had been military leader of the rebels.
On July 29th gunmen attacked a convoy of Lt. General Khalifa Hafter former rebel commander as he traveled to his home. Hafter served in the Gadaffi regime but left to become an ardent opponent of Qaddafi. He lived in the U.S. for many years and is thought to have connections with the CIA. Perhaps this has a bearing on the attempt to assassinate him as well.
Since June at least 12 members of the former Internal Security Organization have been killed.
The most recent target was General Mohammed Hadia a high ranking defense official. He was just leaving a mosque after Friday prayers when he was ambushed. One of his son's said:
"My father was returning from the mosque after Friday prayers with a neighbour when a car stopped in front of them with four people on board,....They asked for his identity, then shot him dead. "Hadia was an early defector from the Qaddafi regime and had been made head of armaments at the defense ministry.
Last Sunday, a former military intelligence colonel, Suleiman Bouzrida was shot in the head and killed when walking to a mosque for prayers. He also joined the revolution in the early stages. Libya is obviously far from secure and still suffers from internal divisions and groups who are willing to use force to achieve their aims.

Libyan military leader was rendered to Gadaffi regime by UK with CIA help

Abdulhakim Belhaj is now a top Libyan military leader. Belhaj was kidnapped in Bangkok Thailand apparently through a CIA operation with help from the UK. He was then rendered to Libya to be incarcerated by Gadaffi and tortured. A letter found in the UK ambassador's residence by rebels congratulated Gadaffi when he took control of Belhaj or his air cargo as the group called him.

Before this revelation the UK denied any role in the rendition. The M16 UK spy group was also involved in the rendition of another Islamist Sami Saadi who is still recovering from injuries suffered while in a Gadaffi prison.

M16 officials were concerned that Belhaj was helping Al-Qaeda to recruit among regional groups in Libya. Belhaj has launched a suit in the UK for his rendition and torture. The suit will probably never go to court because of national security reasons but perhaps rather than face adverse publicity he might receive compensation from the government out of court. For more see this article.

New evidence shows convicted Lockerbie bomber probably innocent

I have always thought that Abdel al-Megrahi who was convicted of carrying out the Lockerbie bombing attack in 1988 was innocent. Even some family members of victims have felt the same. Nevertheless the mainstream press has always accepted his guilt as a fact and there was a huge howl when he was released to Libya for health reasons while Gadaffi was still in power.

In my view he was a convenient pawn in Gadaffi's successful attempts to improve relations with the west. Gadaffi no doubt knew as well that he was innocent but was quite willing to go along with the charade. Megrahi's return back to Libya was probably in part due to commercial interests. Now there is a documentary to be shown on Al Jazeera "Lockerbie: Case Closed"" on Feb 27 (today) at 20:00 GMT on the English Channel that reveals new evidence that Megrahi was innocent.

The SCCRC (Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission) has found that the testimony of an important witness is suspect and likely tainted. Key testimony against Megrahi came from Tony Gauci a Maltese shop owner. Gauci identified Megrahi as the man who brought clothing and an umbrella from him on Dec. 7,, 1988. Remnants of the clothing were found in the wreckage.

The investigating commission found that Gauci had earlier seen a photo of Megrahi in an article before he identified him in a lineup. The investigator's also discovered the Scottish police knew that Gauci was interested in financial reward for his testimony although this is against Scottish law. The police lied about this.

Reportedly Gauci actually collected a 2 million dollar U.S. government reward for his role in the case. Megrahi has always protested his innocence and says he never visited Gauci's shop. For more see this article.

UK police investigating role of UK intelligence in rendition of Libyan rebel leader to Gadaffi regime

Abdel Hakim Belhadj is one of the foremost rebel military leaders and commander of the Tripoli Military Council.In earlier days Belhadj had fought with other jihadists  against the Soviet sponsored regime in Afghanistan. When the Soviets were defeated Belhadj returned to Libya. Belhadj fought with other Islamists in a rebellion based in eastern Libya but the group was crushed in 1998. He then went to Afghanistan where he joined the Taliban. After 9/11 Libyan authorities issued a warrant for his arrest.
   Belhadj claims that informants in the UK informed M16 that he and his pregnant wife were traveling through  Malaysia. Both were arrested in Malaysia and transferred to Bangkok where he was placed in custody of the CIA and retained at a secret prison. Belhaj says that his arrest and consequent transport back to Libya was the result of a join M16 CIA operation designed to help Gadaffi round up his enemies.
  Belhadj was held in prison in Libya for 7 years in terrible conditions as well as being tortured. However Saif al-Islam one of Gadaffi's sons had him released along with many other Islamists after a "de-radicalisation" project. Saif said that the men were no longer a danger to Libya. He was wrong about that as far as the Gadaffi regime was concerned! Belhadj ended up being one of the prime commanders in the successful overthrow of the Gadaffi government.
   A team of rebels and Human Rights Watch found documents related to Belhadj in Tripoli originating from both the CIA and the UK M16. The former Libyan foreign minister noted that M16 had been operating in Tripoli right up until the revolution last February. The British government set up an inquiry into these and other events but it was so flawed that no one shed many tears when the government decided to simply close it down. The UK Metropolitan Police are carrying out investigations. When these are finished the UK government has promised a judge led investigation based on the findings. For more see this article.  Of course no similar investigation is being carried out in the U.S. about the role of the CIA in these events.