Hundreds of Libyans hand over weapons

Associated Press

BENGHAZI, Libya

Hundreds of Libyans converged Saturday on a main square in Benghazi and another in Tripoli in response to a call from the military to hand over their weapons, some driving in with armored personnel carriers, tanks, vehicles with mounted anti-aircraft guns and hundreds of rocket launchers.

The call by the Libyan chiefs of staff was promoted on a private TV station in August. But it may have gained traction in the wake of the attack against the U.S. consulate in Benghazi in which the American ambassador and three staffers were killed. The incident was followed by a popular uproar against armed militias, which increasingly have challenged government authorities.

In response, the government has called on all militias to disband or join a command center coordinating between the army and the militias. The government had relied on many militias for security during the turmoil after last year’s ouster and killing of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Army Col. Omran al-Warfali said the turnout has been impressive.

“Hundreds of citizens came since the early hours of this morning to hand over their weapons from all segments of society; men and youth, women and even children came to hand over bullets they found in the streets,” he said.

Previously, the government had estimated that more than 200,000 people in Libya are armed. It has attempted a number of disarmament schemes, including offering people jobs in exchange for handing over their weapons, or offering to buy guns. Those offers have shown few results.

A military official has been urging citizens in ads on a popular TV station to hand in their weapons. The station, Libya alHurra or Free Libya, showed live footage of Saturday’s collection and transfer of weapons to military barracks.

Ahmed Salem, an organizer of the efforts in Benghazi, said more than 800 citizens handed in weapons at the main collection point. More than 600 types of arms were collected, including anti-aircraft guns, land mines, rocket launchers and artillery rockets.