Gunmen kill Libyan rebels’ top military commander — while he’s in rebel custody
A leader of the Libyan revolution was shot dead by fellow rebels on the way to a hearing by rebel authorities. The rebels said they would hold three days of mourning following his death.
SKY News reported:
The head of the Libyan rebel armed forces has been shot and killed just before arriving for questioning by rebel authorities, their political leader has said.
The carefully worded statement gave few details on who was behind the killing of Abdel Fattah Younes, who had defected from Colonel Gaddafi’s regime where he had served as interior minister.
Hours earlier, the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) had said that they had already detained the commander over suspicions his family might still have ties to the regime of Colonel Gaddafi.
The confusion has raised questions about whether he might have been assassinated by his own side.
But NTC chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil told reporters: “I ask you to refrain from paying attention to the rumours that Gaddafi’s forces are trying to spread within our ranks.”
Announcing Gen Younes’ death, Mr Jalil said: “With all sadness, I inform you of the passing of Abdel Fatah Younes, the commander-in-chief of our rebel forces.”
He said “the person who carried out the assassination was captured”, but did not elaborate further.
Gen Younes had been called in from the front to answer questions over the military situation, Mr Jalil said, adding that there would be three days of mourning in his honour.
It sure is a good thing we’re funding this mess, huh?