European Union to sanction 3 officials of rival Libyan governments

The European Union (EU) has agreed to sanction three Libyan leaders who oppose the Government of National Accord (GNA). The EU has been hesitating for months over fears of derailing peace efforts.

Now the GNA has simply declared that it is the sole legitimate government and will move to Tripoli despite no formal approval by the internationally recognized House of Representatives (HoR). The "peace process" apparently no long needs the vote of confidence by the HoR, as required by the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA). There has been no amendment to the Constitutional Declaration of 2011, so the GNA has no legal basis in the constitution. What we have is an exercise in extra-legal power politics. There is at least one fig leaf, the letter of support by an alleged majority of the HoR members, regarded as equivalent to a green light to go ahead by the UN and GNA. There is no need now to worry about disrupting passage of the GNA through the HoR since the powers that count have already accepted the GNA without the vote.

The sanctions will likely involve travel bans and asset freezes and should be imposed in the next few days. The sanctions are justified under the terms of UN Security resolution supporting the LPA. The UN has tried itself to impose sanctions earlier but they did not pass the Security Council. The UN then tried to impose sanctions through the EU. The EU was to sanction Khalifa Haftar, head of the Libyan National Army (LNA), but Haftar claimed rightly that they were meaningless. Reuters' account of these new sanctions somehow thinks these prior sanctions should not be mentioned. The Haftar sanctions disappeared off the radar of news media. Haftar has many times snubbed his nose at the UN peace process and tried to stop it but he seemsuntouchable. He has arguably been a key "spoiler" in the peace process. He appears to have considerable control over what the HoR and the premier Abdullah al-Thinni do or don't do.

Reuters says: The sanctions deal marks a breakthrough for France, which hopes the measures will help accelerate the formation of a government and avoid Libya slipping fully into the hands of Islamic State militants.The Islamic State has only a small part of Libya and there is little chance Libya could fall into the hands of the Islamic State. This is not reporting, it is fear-mongering.

A senior diplomat said the sanctions had been agreed but the legal text to support them still had to be drawn up. The diplomat said he expected that no government would object to the proceedings, Three men are to be subject to the sanctions. Nouri Abusahmain is the president of the General National Congress in Tripoli and Khalifa al-Ghwell is prime minister of the GNC. Both are sanctioned probably because the GNC does not support the LPA or GNC as it is. They are also blocking travel of UN officials into Tripoli to set up the GNA. Somewhat surprisingly, Aquilah Saleh, the president of the HoR, is also sanctioned. He was originally a hard liner but supposedly came to support the GNA. Now he is apparently opposing it or at least did not facilitate the passing of the GNA through the HoR. The HoR is the legislative body of the GNA and also must approve some of the decisions of the Presidency Council. To sanction the head of the GNA legislature is at the least a bit odd and certainly may influence the attitude of the HoR to decisions it has to approve.

Although there are dire humanitarian needs throughout Libya especially for medical supplies, it would seem that these needs are one of the carrots used to get support for the GNA. In January EU foreign ministers promised 100 million euros or $108 million in immediate aid once the GNA is formed. Sanctions are the sticks. The result may be hardening of positions and further division.

Turkish envoy to Libya urges elections as a way out of Libyan crisis

Emrullah Isler, the Turkish Special Envoy for Libya claims the political crisis in Libya can be overcome by holding general elections.

At present there are two rival governments, one in Tobruk, that is internationally recognized, the House of Representatives, consisting of representatives elected in elections last June. Some of those elected have not attended and do not recognize the legitimacy of the Tobruk government. The UN through its envoy Bernardino Leon held talks with those elected but boycotting the parliament in order to reach some type of political settlement. However, the alternative government formed in Tripoli by a bloc of Islamist and other militias who control Tripoli and part of Benghazi were not involved in the dialogue nor were the rival Islamist-led militias and those led by CIA-linked General Khalifa Haftar. The General National Congress was recalled by the Islamist bloc and appointed a rival prime minister Omar al-Hassi, who then formed an alternative government. The situation was complicated when the Libyan Supreme Court ruled on November 6 , that the June elections were unconstitutional and that the Tobruk parliament should be dissolved. The Tobruk government rejected the ruling immediately. The UN claims to be studying the decision. The decision has led the UN to begin a dialogue with figures associated with the Tripoli government, although the language used by the UN still refers to Abdullah Al-Thinni of the Tobruk government as the Libyan "prime minister," even more than a week after the Supreme Court decision. The recommendation by the Turkish envoy had already been suggested by prime minister Omar al-Hassi of the Tripoli government and a spokesperson for that government suggested that there should be a referendum on a new constitution that is being drafted and then general elections. Both sides appear to accept the committee drafting the constitution, so this could be a basis for a partial solution. However, there also needs to be a transitional government of some sort up until the referendum and elections. Jason Pack, suggests that there should be a Unity Government composed of representatives from the competing groups.So far the Tobruk government has not shown any interest in the suggestion that there should be elections. They claim they are the legitimate government, internationally recognized and want it to stay that way even though they hold sway in only a few areas of Libya. The UN has achieved a break-through of sorts as the UN's envoy Leon was able to get the Islamist militias and General Haftar's forces to agree to a 12 hour humanitarian truce. The truce will allow the Red Crescent to evacuate citizens from the battle areas and also retrieve bodies of those killed. Haftar launched an offensive with the blessing and support of the Tobruk government to try to retake Benghazi. He has retaken some areas but not others, with many casualties. The truce is significant in that the UN was able to convince the Tobruk government, Haftar and the Islamist militias to cease fighting. As spokesperson for the UN mission Samir Gattas said that "this and other confidence-building measures would certainly help in creating an atmosphere conducive for dialogue." Perhaps the UN should be pushing the Tobruk government and Haftar towards accepting elections after a referendum on the new constitution. The UN should make it clear that they will not simply accept the legitimacy of the Tobruk government but demand a political settlement that avoids the issue of which government is legitimate entirely. In spite of the conflicts between different militias in different parts of the country most of the country manages to function. Even if the warring factions are unable to agree on a unity government as recommended by Pack, they may be able to work out some practical sharing of powers that will allow a period of relative peace until a referendum on a new constitution and then elections, or alternatively there could be elections agreed upon even before a referendum on a new constitution. The truce in Benghazi provides at least a flicker of hope since the legitimate government sanctioned Haftar's offensive. By agreeing to a truce, the Tobruk government is recognizing the Islamist Shura Council militia as at least a force that can be part of negotiations and also it for once has paid heed to the UN demand that fighting must stop as a condition for dialogue to work. Don't expect the mainstream media to say much about all this. What is important for them is that jihadists in the city of Derna have pledged loyalty to the Islamic State. This is true enough but of little significance. Radical jihadists typically ally themselves with the most prominent radical jihadist group, which is no longer Al Qaeda but the Islamic State. Derna has been under control of radical jihadists for ages. Yet CNN makes a big deal of the situation which really has not changed at all. See the appended video. There are articles on the issue in Time, , Washington Times, and UPI, just for starters. What is important is the radical Islamist threat narrative. This will hardly be conducive to working out any political settlement between the Islamist bloc and Haftar's militias. If what counts is the war on terror, this emphasis could result in a bigger mess in Libya through foreign intervention directed first at the Islamic State but no doubt would soon be widened to attack any Islamists who do not recognize the Tobruk government

The new plan for Western intervention in Libya

The New York Times seems at times an outlet for Obama administration policy and trial balloons for possible policy directions. Perhaps the recent op-ed suggesting the EU should intervene with a peace-keeping force in Libya is a trial balloon

The op-ed is penned by Dirk Vandewalle an associate professor of government at Darmouth College. Vandewalle is an expert on Libya and two years ago wrote an article for Foreign Affairs in which he expressed optimism about developments in post-Qaddafi Libya although he does note the militia issue that was developing even then. The appended video shows Vandewalle in an interview shortly after the attack on the US consul in Benghazi that resulted in the death of US ambassador Stevens and several others. He remained optimistic about developments in Libya. Vandewalle begins his article by noting that 11 special envoys had met in Paris at the end of October. He says that the group: " issued a final communiqué with predictably anodyne recommendations: support for the formal government, suggestions for making it more inclusive, a call for the militias to withdraw and a proposal that the United Nations spearhead a comprehensive dialogue among the warring parties." The final communique in its entirety can be found here.
 Among predictably anodyne recommendations were that there be no external interference in Libya: They commended the determination of the special representative to organize, in the near future, a new round of discussions and urged the parties to remove all obstacles to these discussions. They stated that the efforts of all international partners should aim to support the UN mediation efforts. They rejected any external interference in Libya. Vandewalle is correct that so far the discussions have achieved very little if anything but that is in part because the discussions have not been with the parties that count, CIA-linked Colonel Haftar's militias, the Islamist militias such as Libyan Dawn, and the alternative government of Omar al-Hassi.
Professor Vandewalle is all for foreign intervention. According to him this is the way forward for Libya: What Libya needs instead is a European peacekeeping force that would shield the fledgling government from the various armed groups currently contesting its power, and one another, and allow it to rebuild state institutions.
The article is dated November 11th. Back on Thursday November 5th the Libyan Supreme Court ruled that the June elections were illegal and the new government unconstitutional. This is surely relevant to Vandewalle's policy recommendation since it implies that the internationally recognized government is not constitutional. The kindest explanation of this omission is that Vandewalle wrote the article before this even happened in spite of the fact it was almost a week ago. Perhaps he may think it is of no significance. There are many things that Vandewalle apparently thinks are of no significance. Here is his account of some recent events in Libya:When the Islamist parties fared poorly in the election in June for the G.N.C.’s successor, the House of Representatives, fighting flared up in the western part of the country. The Islamist militias, emboldened by several military advances, including their overtaking the international airport in Tripoli in August, have proclaimed that the G.N.C. would remain Libya’s rightful legislative body. There were no Islamist parties per se running in the elections. Everyone ran as an independent. However, he probably is correct that those elected who actually went to the meetings in Tobruk were mostly not Islamists. But Vandewalle manages to describe these events without ever mentioning CIA-linked General Haftar, his attempt to declare the GNC suspended on Feb 14 , his Operation Dignity launched on 16 May 2014, his attack on Islamist militia bases in Benghazi, and the burning of parliament by his allies the Zintan brigades. Without understanding this background there is no way that that the public can really fathom what has been happening in Libya. Perhaps this is the entire purpose of an expert academic ignoring the obvious. Vandewalle manages to go through an entire interview without mentioning General Khalifa Haftar nor does his name even come up in his entire op-ed in the New York Times.
Of course this sort of omission is not uncommon in respectable media. Here is a Reuters account of the attack on the Libyan parliament The gunmen are not identified. The attack is not linked to Haftar at all or his operations in Benghazi. There is editorial propaganda against the parliament that was attacked almost seeming to justify the attack. Contrast that with the Al Jazeera coverage below which links the operation with Haftar allies, the Zintan brigades, and to the beginning of Haftar's Operation Dignity that began earlier in Benghazi. Vandewalle realizes that Libya is on the verge of a civil war and also notes correctly that countries such as the UAE and Egypt are intervening against Islamist militias and that Qatar supports some Islamist groups. He thinks dialogue is impossible because the militias flush with weapons have no incentive to cooperate. He fails to mention that the anti-Islamist militias of Genral Haftar have the support of the Tobruk government led by the same prime minister Al-Thinni who called General Haftar's attack on parliament attack on parliament illegal and noted that there was a warrant out for his arrest. He was prime minister of that government as well. Now his government has given the green light to attack not just Benghazi as Haftar is doing but to liberate Tripoli as well: Libya’s internationally recognized government ordered on Tuesday its military, led by renegade General Khalifa Haftar, to advance on the capital Tripoli and called for a civil disobedience there against armed Islamist groups. Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani’s cabinet said in statement posted on Facebook that the armed forces have the green light to “liberate” Tripoli “and state institutions from the grip of armed groups.” No doubt the professor simply forgot the relationship of Haftar's militia to the present government.
 Vandewalle remarks that the US has no appetite for boots on the ground in Libya. However, it does have special forces there since it has been involved in kidnapping terror suspects and at one time they attempted to train Libyan forces. Now due to security conditions in Libya this job has been moved out of country, even to the UK which recently closed their program down after the trainees did not behave as proper proxies for western imperial aims.
 Vandewalle concludes:The responsibility for creating a peacekeeping force for Libya falls squarely on European states. Considering their longstanding economic and political interests in North Africa and their concerns over immigration, it is they, after all, that have the most to lose from Libya’s collapse. Libya is part of the European Union’s soft underbelly. The long-standing economic and political interests are no doubt related to the history of Libya as a colony of Italy and in part of France. As in the 2011 intervention the Europeans should spearhead the intervention, "with logistical and intelligence support from the United States". Vandewalle notes that France has openly called for intervention.
 Apparently Vandewalle gets around since he was testifying before an Italian parliamentary commission on foreign affairs in Rome on Oct. 24 and says:I was struck by how frankly some members were arguing that only a European-led force could provide a way out of the current impasse. The original notion some European politicians held — that a beefed-up U.N. mission was needed — has lost its appeal. Vandewalle suggests that the model for the intervention should be the International Assistance Force(ISAF)used to put down the Taliban in Afghanistan. The problem is that ISAF came into being only after a US-led attack on the Taliban in concert with the Northern Alliance. Only after the Taliban had been driven out of government did ISAF enter the picture. Operation Enduring Freedom began on October 1st 2001 and ISAF was formed only in December two months later.
 Vandeville sees the EU peace-keeping role as strengthening the Tobruk government through protecting infrastructure and state institutions. However, much of that infrastructure is in the control of Islamist militias.Vandewalle warns that Europe must intervene decisively or face another failed Arab state. So just how did Libya, now trending towards a so-called failed state, get to this point?

Obama may be planning to intervene in Libya with others

In Obama's recent announcement of the expansion of attacks against the Islamic State in Iraq and also into Syria, he also spoke of the need for vigilance in northern Africa.

Obama may also be turning his sights on a possible intervention in Libya which is more and more described in the media as a failed state. Ever since the CIA-linked General Khalifa Haftar began his Operation Dignity against Islamist militias and had his allies the Zintan Brigades attack and burn parliament while kidnapping some Islamist lawmakers and officials, there have been counter-attacks by umbrella groups of mostly Islamist militias who now control Tripoli and also most of Benghazi.
Obama could argue that the success of Islamist militias could lead to a safe haven for radical Islamist groups. Some radical groups are already associated with Islamist militia umbrella groups, especially in Benghazi, including Ansar al Sharia, the group accused of the attack on the US embassy in Benghazi. The US along with allies could intervene to support the government in Tobruk and indirectly Haftar.
 France is already pushing for intervention. There has already been intervention in the form of several night attacks by mystery planes directed against Islamist targets in Tripoli. They failed to stop the ultimate takeover of the city by the militias. The rebels accused the UAE and Egypt of being behind the attacks. Haftar himself called the attacks a joint project with the international community. Later, the US also accused the UAE and Egypt of being behind the attacks and claimed to have known nothing about the attacks before they happened. This seems quite unlikely. More likely, the US might have even approved even if tacitly. Later still, the US withdrew its accusations against the UAE and Egypt suggesting that the US cannot decide what story it should tell.
 The government elected in June has been meeting in the far eastern city of Tobruk and is loosely allied with Haftar. The interim government had scheduled a meeting of the group in Benghazi where parliament had been moved but the security situation prevented it. In a recent interview, Obama suggested for Libya the sort of nation building and long term commitment which was part of the US occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan neither of which have been very successful so far but cost the US huge sums and many casualties.
 Obama said: "I think we [and] our European partners underestimated the need to come in full force if you’re going to do this. Then it’s the day after Ghadafi is gone, when everybody is feeling good and everybody is holding up posters saying, ‘Thank you, America. At that moment, there has to be a much more aggressive effort to rebuild societies that didn’t have any civic traditions." In neighboring Egypt, the president el-Sisi is waging an all-out battle against any Islamists who oppose his government especially the Muslim Brotherhood which until it was overthrown ran the first elected government. El-Sisi designates these Islamists as terrorists. Obama could very well decide to describe the Islamist militias in Libya as terrorists and intervene as part of his global war on terror.
Obama said: "As Americans, we welcome our responsibility to lead from Europe to Asia—from the far reaches of Africa to war-torn capitals of the Middle East—we stand for justice, for dignity, Abroad, American leadership is the one constant in an uncertain world. It is America that has the capacity and the will to mobilize the world against terrorists.” In his recent speech Obama emphasized that the greatest threats at present come from the Middle East and North Africa where he claims radical groups are exploiting grievances for their own game. General Haftar could very well play a key role in helping Obama rebuild Libya in any attempt to create a Libya more to the liking of the west and western corporations eager to further the exploitation of Libya's vast oil resources.
 One suggestion by Barak Barfi is as follows:"Washington and its partners should persuade the new Libyan government to appoint Haftar as chief of staff. Respected by his troops, he has the military skills and combat experience necessary to create a modern army. But most important, he is the sole Libyan willing to take on the Islamist militias that are preventing the establishment of a modern state" The Tobruk-based government has dismissed 7 ambassadors loyal to the GNC-formed government in Tripoli.

Mystery planes bombard Tripoli for a third night in a week

For a third night unidentified aircraft struck targets in Tripoli. The attacks came just hours after the Misrata militia claim they have finally gained control of the Tripoli International AIrport from the rival Zintan brigades.

The Misrata militia are part of a larger umbrella group called Libya Shield and also Libya Dawn, both pro-Islamist.The Zintan brigades are allied with General Khalifa Haftar and his Operation Dignity. Although part of the Libyan Air Force has defected to ally itself with the general, Libya is not believed to have planes capable of launching the attacks. Most of Libya's air force was destroyed by western attacks during the Libyan uprising that overthrew Gadaffi. According to Reuters as reported in Al Jazeera, Tripoli residents heard the jets just at dawn followed by explosions, but there were no details of what had been hit available.

 General Haftar, who has past links to the CIA, has claimed responsibility for the earlier attacks and says they are a joint action with the international community. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued a statement: "Egypt categorically denies press reports that Egyptian warplanes bombarded positions held by armed Islamist militias in the Libyan capital." The Misrata militia that was attacked said that Egypt and the UAE provided the jets. The group reported attacks around Tripoli airport killed 13 people. Both Egypt and the UAE oppose Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood who in turn support the Misrata militia and other Islamist groups. 

An umbrella group of Islamists took control of Haftar's main base in Benghazi and also ousted Special Forces loyal to Haftar who were providing security for the city. Haftar was left only in control of an airfield on the outskirts. The newly elected parliament was scheduled to meet in Benghazi after the outgoing government voted to move the parliament there from Tripoli. However, the parliament met instead in the far eastern city of Tobruk, for security reasons and no doubt as well to avoid areas where Islamists would have a great deal of influence rather than Haftar and his allies. 

 The UN and most foreign embassies have evacuated most or all of their staff and the embassies have closed. Most airlines have also stopped flying into Libya as the number of usable airports dwindles. The Tripoli International Airport is in ruins with many planes destroyed or damaged. It has been closed since clashes first started back on July 13th. The control tower had been previously damaged but now after the latest bombing the main terminal is reported to have been destroyed by fire. 

 The outgoing General National Congress, questioned the legitimacy of the newly elected parliament after it decided to meet in Tobruk against the decision of the GNC that is should he held in Benghazi. Now, spokesperson for the GNC Omar Ahmidan announced:"The General National Congress will hold an emergency meeting in Tripoli to save the country's sovereignty," Islamist groups claim they have no confidence in the new parliament situated far off in the eastern city of Tobruk.

 The parliament in Tobruk seems to lack any power. It has asked for international help and pleaded with the warring militia to agree to a ceasefire. The Zintan brigades at Haftar's request had occupied and burned the parliament buildings in Tripoli and kidnapped a number of legislators and officials. Now Haftar and his allies want to ensure that a parliament said to have a majority of anti-Islamist members is not subject to a similar attack by pro-Islamist groups. 

That the identity of the planes attacking Tripoli remains a mystery after three nights of raids is itself a mystery. Intelligence agencies and governments must know where these planes took off from and would be able to track their flight there and back. Why is it that no country seems to be making any sort of outcry at what is a terrorist attack on a capital city. What is much more important is to find out who was the alleged executioner of journalist James Foley. Can you imagine the press coverage and outrage if unidentified planes bombed even Ottawa let alone Washington or London? .

CIA-Linked General Khalifa Haftar claims his bombing attacks in Tripoli a joint effort with international communtiy

Even though CIA-linked General Haftar claims his bombing of Misrata militia in Tripoli was a joint effort with the international community there seems little attention let alone analysis in the media of what is happening in Libya

On Monday, Libyan air force units loyal to General Kahlifa Haftar struck positions of the Misrata militia in Tripoli. The militia has been in a prolonged battle at and near the Tripoli international airport with allies of Haftar, the Zintan brigades. The battle has moved closer to the center of Tripoli now as unidentified militia have fired Grad rockets into two upscale districts killing three people according to local residents. The area is home to many foreign brand outlets including Marks and Spencer, and Nike and fancy cafes. There were reports that six people had also been injured in the attacks but none of the casualties had been confirmed as yet by the Health Ministry. On its Facebook page a group of rebels from Misrata called Libya Dawn claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks.
 The government ordered a satellite provider to shut down two of its own television stations as they are said to be controlled by pro-Misrata groups. No doubt this is to prevent pro-Islamist opinions being voiced. The Egyptian government did the same thing in Egypt. Sky News reported that the two stations had stopped broadcasting on Tuesday. The Egyptian company NileSat runs the communications satellites providing the services to the station. Many in the government have fled to the safety of the eastern city of Tobruk where the parliament has been meeting.
 Haftar's forces have been trying to wrest back control of Benghazi and his own bases from an umbrella group of Islamist militia who control the city. At least three people are reported killed and eight wounded in recent Benghazi clashes according to a local hospital representative. Western powers including officials from France, the US, EU, and Egypt have all denied any involvement in the Tripoli bombing attack.
Haftar claims that he launched the strikes as part of a joint international operation. The unidentified planes launched strikes on four targets associated with the Misrata rebel group Libya Dawn. A senior representative of Haftar's Operation Dignity also claimed responsibility for the attack. That source also told a New York Times journalist that the bombs were dropped by a Sukhoi Su-24 plane and was a joint operation of Haftar's forces and the "international community". There are no listings of the Sukhoi S--24 as part of Libya's little remaining air force. However, some of the planes were sold to Libya during the Gadaffi era. The plane is from the Soviet era. Egyptian security sources said that air traffic between Libya and Egypt had been suspended for six hours overnight for "security reasons".
 This all sounds very suspicious given Haftar's past links with the CIA but the linkage in this case could be with Egypt and al-Sisi. Haftar has even suggested that he would like to be the el-Sisi of Libya. His Operation Dignity mimics el-Sisi's attack on the Muslim Brotherhood. As well as attacking Islamist bases in Benghazi, Haftar's allies in the Zintan Brigades attacked and burned parliament and kidnapped Islamist lawmakers and officials back in May as shown on the appended video. In spite of this the group remained in charge of security at the Tripoli international airport until recent clashes with Misrata militia.

CIA-linked General Haftar launches airstrikes in Tripoli Libya

Many reports speak of airstrikes in the Libyan capital Tripoli as being launched by an unknown party against Islamist militia from Mistrata on Monday August 18.

Actually there should be no mystery about who launched them, especially since the target was a militia group linked to Islamists. CiA-linked General Khalifa Haftar some time ago launched Operation Dignity by attacking from the air two Islamist bases in the eastern city of Benghazi. Khalifa is a US citizen having lived in the US almost two decades. Since the Haftar attack the Islamists have fought back and driven Libyan Special Forces allied with Haftar out of Benghazi and have seized several bases. Haftar's forces appear to be hemmed in at an airport on the outskirts of Benghazi. However, elements of the Libyan Air Force have allied with Haftar allowing him to make attacks from the air.

ftar's "air force" was responsible for the attack. His "air force" are simply members of the Libyan air force such as it is who simply allied themselves with Haftar and brought a few planes with them. Most of the Libyan air force was destroyed during the uprising against Gadaffi. Many sources said that it was unknown who was responsible for the strikes including the Boston Globe and ABC news. The strikes are reported to have killed six people. Some speculated that the attack must have come from a foreign country such as Italy. The Libyan government ordered an investigation: In a statement, the government demanded the chief of staff and military intelligence to investigate the predawn strikes Monday morning targeting positions of militias originally from the coastal city of Misrata and its Islamist allies. 

 General Haftar himself added to the confusion according to this source: Gen. Hifter himself claimed the attacks were part of a “joint operation” between his troops and the international community, aiming to target Islamist-leaning militias. The "international community"? Why are not other sources reporting on this and trying to find out what is going on? 

 The new parliament is said to have a majority of anti-Islamists in it although it is hard to see how this can be known, since all those elected ran as independents. It seems hard to believe that the parliament has no idea what is going on. I expect that Haftar has many in the new parliament who support him. The new parliament met in the eastern city of Tobruk because of worry about security conditions in Benghazi where it was slated to convene after the caretaker government decided to move it there.

 General Haftar not only launched attacks on Islamist bases in Benghazi, his allies the Zintan brigades raided, occupied, and burned the parliament in Tripoli and then kidnapped several Islamist legislators and government officials. This is the same group that provided security for the Tripoli international airport. However that control was challenged by militia from Misrata and elsewhere who have been fighting pitched battles with the Zintan militia that destroyed much of the airport and many planes and residential areas near the airport.

 The Libyan parliament recently asked the UN to intervene and take measures to protect civilians. This is reminiscent of the earlier UN resolution for a no-fly zone to protect civilians from Gadaffi air attacks. So far the UN has not indicated that it will act in Libya except to pull out most of its staff for security reasons. Many foreign embassies are closed down for security reasons as well. Maybe Haftar will claim that he is carrying out his duty to protect the people by attacking Islamist militias. An attempted coup is taking place in Libya while the newly elected parliament looks on helplessly. The former government had accused Haftar of mounting a coup and ordered him arrested. The arrest was never carried out. 

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.