LIBYA: Ruling interim council negotiator says he expects the Gaddafi-held town of Bani Walid to switch sides without a fight after discussions with tribal elders

Record ID: 560629

  • Title: LIBYA: Ruling interim council negotiator says he expects the Gaddafi-held town of Bani Walid to switch sides without a fight after discussions with tribal elders
  • Date: 7th September 2011
  • Summary: 40 KM NORTH OF BANI WALID, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 6, 2011) (REUTERS) NEGOTIATOR SEDDIQ BEN DELLAH FROM THE RULING INTERIM COUNCIL SHAKING HANDS AND GREETING A MAN NEW LIBYAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEGOTIATOR SEDDIQ BEN DELLAH SAYING: "After this meeting, the guys who came from Bani Walid are going back to explain and deliver the message that we sent to the people of Bani Walid, and I think they will have a meeting this evening with the authorities of people there, and they will take a decision regarding the peaceful entry to Bani Walid and as soon as they agree about this they will come back and inform us and then will plan our entry to the city (Q: Do you expect by tonight or tomorrow morning?) I expect by this evening we will have an answer." 50 KM EAST OF BANI WALID, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 6, 2011) (REUTERS) VEHICLE OF FIGHTERS FROM RULING INTERIM COUNCIL ON ROAD HEAVY MACHINE-GUN / FIGHTER IN HUT IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF VEHICLES BY LIBYAN FIGHTERS VARIOUS OF LIBYAN FIGHTERS ON ROAD VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS LOOKING THROUGH OBJECTS AND WEAPONS LEFT BEHIND BY RETREATING PRO-GADDAFI FORCES FIGHTER INSIDE ARMOURED VEHICLE VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS VARIOUS OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPON
  • Embargoed: 22nd September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3I2JVLSGMKGYFWLQ31QSIGP83
  • Story Text: A negotiator for Libya's ruling interim council on Tuesday (September 6) said he hoped for a breakthrough in talks to take over the town of Bani Walid without a fight.
    Seddiq ben Dellah said he hoped the standoff could be resolved within hours.
    "After this meeting, the guys who came from Bani Walid are going back to explain and deliver the message that we sent to the people of Bani Walid, and I think they will have a meeting this evening with the authorities of people there, and they will take a decision regarding the peaceful entry to Bani Walid and as soon as they agree about this they will come back and inform us and then will plan our entry to the city... I expect by this evening we will have an answer," he said.
    Bani Walid is a stronghold for the Warfalla tribe, Libya's largest, many of whom enjoyed special positions in Gaddafi's regime and the tribe's elders were generally considered to be supportive of the regime despite many of their members fighting on both sides of the conflict.
    The town is among a handful of towns, including Gaddafi's birthplace of Sirte, that are still not controlled by Libya's new pro-democracy authorities.
    Earlier, a tribal leader from Bani Walid, Abdul Qader Ganyeh, said the vast majority of the town's residents were opposed to fighting an advance by fighters loyal to the ruling interim council.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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