Libyan interior minister suspended after gunmen fire on peaceful protesters
- Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha has been suspended and an investigation has been launched
- Gunmen fired on crowds on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday during demonstrations in Tripoli, seat of the GNA, against poor public services and living conditions
Libya’s UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) on Friday said the interior minister had been provisionally suspended after militia gunmen fired on peaceful protesters last week.
“Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha has been temporarily suspended” and will face an inquiry “on his statements about the protests and incidents in Tripoli and other cities,” the GNA said.
He will be questioned on the authorisations and permits granted to the demonstrators, the security arrangements in place and the “violations committed”, it said.
Demonstrations began on Sunday in Tripoli, seat of the GNA, against poor public services and living conditions. Gunmen fired on the crowd, and this was repeated on Monday and Wednesday.
Gunmen on Wednesday attacked a peaceful demonstration by “firing live ammunition indiscriminately”, Bashagha had said.