LIBYA: Hundreds of Libyans attend a funeral at Martyrs Square to honour a guard killed outside the PM's office by militiamen seeking compensation
Record ID:
861337
LIBYA: Hundreds of Libyans attend a funeral at Martyrs Square to honour a guard killed outside the PM's office by militiamen seeking compensation
- Title: LIBYA: Hundreds of Libyans attend a funeral at Martyrs Square to honour a guard killed outside the PM's office by militiamen seeking compensation
- Date: 10th May 2012
- Summary: PEOPLE KISSING GRAVE AS OTHERS THROW SAND ON TOP OF GRAVE MAN CRYING CEMETERY GATE
- Embargoed: 25th May 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- City:
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Crime,Conflict
- Reuters ID: LVA6S7XF3BDDSSN5F073YXC634WB
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Hundreds of Libyans attended a funeral in Tripoli on Wednesday (May 9) for a security guard who died after a protest by a heavily-armed militia outside the PM office on Tuesday (May 8) turned violent.
The militia, from the Western Mountains region, were seeking the reinstatement of a government scheme that offered payouts to former fighters but was suspended after many claims that were paid out turned out to be fraudulent.
The killing caused an uproar among many Libyans with the Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib urging Libyans to show their support for the deceased guard, Ali al-Quoud, and continue calls for militias to disarm and respect the state.
El-Keib was among hundreds who attended the funeral in Tripoli's iconic Martyrs Square.
The guard's father, Mabrook al-Hadi al-Quoud, urged Libyans to learn lessons from Tuesday's firefight.
"If we don't protect the original revolutionaries and count them in number it will be a disaster. We had a disaster because of a simple grant which the real revolutionaries won't care about it and there are even those who have remained at home and not claimed it. They caused a great problem because of it, and this is something that should alert us and we must protect our original revolutionaries, the real revolutionary is priceless, we must protect them from these types of people. It's not a joke to carry a weapon and claim you are a Libyan revolutionary, it's not easy," he said.
Relatives and friends gathered at the Munaydir cemetery as his burial took place.
Libya has struggled to disarm some of the country's militias that fought successfully to end Muammar Gaddafi's four decade rule over the country in a revolt aided by NATO last year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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