Libya Army Chief Resigns Following Deadly Violence
Local Editor
The United Nations mission to Libya called for "maximum restraint" from all parties following 31 deaths and at least 120 injuries in clashes with the Libya Shield Brigade in Benghazi on Saturday.
In a statement on Sunday, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya reiterated "the necessity of resolving disagreements peacefully through dialogue."
The violence erupted after demonstrators demanding that the power of militias be curbed reached the gates of the brigade.
On this note, Libyan Army Chief of Staff Youssef Mangoush presented his resignation on Sunday during a session of the General National Congress.
"The chief of staff presented his resignation that was accepted by the congress," GNC member Abdullah al-Gmati stated.
He added that the assembly had already been preparing a vote to suspend Mangoush.
Gmati further stated that the GNC has given the government two weeks to set a plan to dissolve armed groups and integrate their members individually into the regular security forces.
The Libya Shield and other militias formed by rebels who fought the dictator Muammar Gaddafi back in 2011 remained intact after his assassination, causing continuous violence over the country.
The protests in Benghazi and another in the capital Tripoli had been called in support of Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zaidan's demand that illegal militias disband or come under control of the country's security forces.
Source: News Agencies, edited by website team
