Libya's NTC challeged by 'Federal Union': A move which can split Libya

BENGHAZI, Libya (Wed, March 07) – ‘No to federalism; no to regionalism; yes to a unified Libya’; the banners with these words were carried by the several hundreds of demonstrators who were protesting in Benghazi against the so-called Federal Union.

Libya's NTC challeged by 'Federal Union': A move which can split Libya

According to reports; local leaders in the eastern city of Benghazi have revealed their plans for larger autonomy from Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) based in Tripoli.

The details show that 3,000 delegates favored the formation of a new council to control their own issues. The announcement puts them on a conflict with the country’s interim leadership.

The formation of the ‘Federal Union’ includes the province of Cyrenaica which is home to Libya’s biggest oil fields. But not everyone approves of the one-sided decision. 

Reacting to the announcement; Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, NTC Chairman, warned of a foreign conspire to split up the country. 

Speaking in Tripoli Abdel-Jalil said: “As the National Transitional Council we are surprised at these voices calling for division in Libya. We call on all Libyans to gather round the internationally legitimate Council.”