Libya power struggle: brink of civil war?
Parliament seeks the help of militias after forces loyal to a former general storm government headquarters.
A renegade general with links to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and a mission to save Libya has been accused of staging a coup.
Forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar have carried out attacks on militias in Benghazi, and stormed the parliament building in the capital Tripoli. Haftar says he wants to rid the country of what he called “extremist groups’ and a “terrorist scourge”.
He said: “In the military when we launch a battle, it is followed by reorganising our troops, then we return with strength. It is impossible for us to go back on this matter. We will never retreat until we reach our goals.”
Haftar was once an ally of former leader Muammar Gaddafi but turned against him and supported the revolution. He now heads his self-declared Libyan National Army.
But does he have enough support to bring down parliament? And does he have what it takes to restore order to Libya?
Presenter: Kamahl Santamaria
Guests:
Osama Kubbar – a political analyst at the Strategic Studies Centre and former Vice President of the Supreme Council of Libyan Revolutionaries
David Mack – a former US deputy assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs and a former US ambassador
Jason Pack – president of Libya-Analysis.com.