Libyan mob storms seat of power during poverty protest

PROTESTERS have stormed a parliament building amid unrest across Libya, fuelled by anger over deteriorating living conditions, rising food prices and political deadlock.

Some Libyan protesters yesterday said they would keep demonstrating until all the ruling elites quit power, with activists calling for people to take to the streets again last night.

Libyans, many impoverished after a decade of turmoil and sweltering in the summer heat, have also been enduring fuel shortages and power cuts of up to 18 hours a day despite the country having Africa’s largest oil reserves.

Protesters stormed the seat of the House of Representatives in the eastern city of Tobruk on Friday, ransacking its offices and torching part of the building.

In the main eastern city of Benghazi – the cradle of the 2011 uprising – and the capital Tripoli, thousands took to the streets chanting: “We want the lights to work.” Some brandished the green flags of the former Gaddafi regime.

A local journalist said protesters in Libya’s third city Misrata were blocking roads after setting fire to a municipal building on Friday night.

Libyan media also showed images of protesters in the oasis city of Sebha, deep in the Sahara desert, torching an official building.

Libya has been mired in chaos and repeated rounds of conflict since a Nato-backed uprising toppled and killed dictator Gaddafi in 2011.

Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya expert, said: “For more than a year, the majority of diplomatic and mediation efforts around Libya have been monopolised by the idea of elections, which won’t happen for at least two years, given the failure of the Geneva negotiations.”