LIBYA: Libyan army welcomes the first batch of former rebels who have been formally trained to join the force in the capital Tripoli

Record ID: 863067

  • Title: LIBYA: Libyan army welcomes the first batch of former rebels who have been formally trained to join the force in the capital Tripoli
  • Date: 5th March 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF GRADUATED CADETS MARCHING MILITARY POLICE OFFICER
  • Embargoed: 20th March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya, Libya
  • City:
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABRGQG7XL860AFMOH0FZGPAOZ6
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Former rebels who helped end Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year rule formally joined the country's armed forces on Sunday (March 4).
    A total of 350 former rebels, all from the capital Tripoli and the immediate outskirts, took part in a ceremony in the capital Tripoli.
    The cadets have undergone four months of training focused on athletics, weapons and army tactics and strategy. Before taking up arms to fight Gaddafi, many of the rebels were students, teachers, doctors and engineers and had no formal military training.
    "These are the first cadets the graduate which all are from the rebels from all over Tripoli some used to be engineers workers…etc and the self-motivation is the first thing needed to be here," said Colonel Abdel Baset Mustafa on the sidelines of the ceremony.
    Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) plans to integrate an estimated 50,000 former militiamen into the defense and interior ministries. This is a test for the transtional government's ability to get rebel leaders to cede command of their fighters.
    The lack of a fully functioning army and police force has given militias free rein to fight turf wars.
    "We loved to form a national army like any other country, we want the constitution and the law not like the days of the tyrant and his Green Book. We want to secure the country and finish what the martyrs started," said Aymen Amora who fought Gaddafi forces in Tripoli and Bani Walid during the eight-month uprising.
    The "Green Book" was Gaddafi's eccentric handbook on politics, economics and everyday life.
    Once they are in the force, the former rebels will be responsible for the country's security, protection of officials, securing vital oil fields and important offiices.
    Average salary will be 560 USD a month.
    The militias are now the biggest threat to the stability of Libya, clashing regularly with each other in violent turf wars and undermining the authority of the new rulers.
    NTC chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil warned in January that if the militias did not comply, the country risks being dragged into a civil war.
    Drawn from dozens of different towns and ideological camps, militias are reluctant to lay down arms they believe will help them secure their due share of political power in the new Libya.
    Those that have turned up to seek jobs in the new police force or army appear to be from smaller militias that did not have the resources to make a bid for power, rather than the heavily armed and well-organized militias that are the biggest headache for the NTC.
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