Libyan Tribes Call for End to Armed Uprising

A meeting of tribal leaders from government-controlled areas of Libya Thursday in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, called for an end to an armed uprising against the Libyan leader, Muammar Al Qathafi and for NATO to halt its airstrikes on the regime’s forces.

The meeting, labelled as the National Conference of the Tribes of Libya, was held under a giant tent in the presence of foreign journalists who were taken on an organised tour on the invitation of government officials. Its aim was to show a nationwide support for the leader. English and Arabic signs on the cloth walls read: "Stop the War," "Libya First," and "No War for Oil."


Journalists were told that about 2,000 chiefs representing 851 tribes and tribal factions were in attendance, at the convention that was organised by the tribes, not the regime. However it seems that the convention drew only limited participation, with only tribal chiefs from three regions of western and central Libya were present.

A government spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim said the "security situation" in eastern Libya limited attendance at the conference, but insisted that it was broadly representative. He said the meeting was “another proof that the Libyan people are rallying behind the leadership."

Mr. Ibrahim said the tribal gathering was a counterpoint to Clinton's call for Al Qathafi's ouster. "What voice is more important, Hillary Clinton's voice or the voice of 2,000 tribal leaders of Libya?" he said.

While urging Western leaders to take note, Mr Ibrahim went on to say: "Their message is national unity and no to foreign intervention. They are not siding with someone against someone else. Of course, they're rallying behind the leadership of the country, but they're saying, we want our brothers in the east to come talk to us so we can find a peaceful solution to this crisis."

The participants took an active part in the meeting, nearly every speaker pledging allegiance to Muammar Al Qathafi and calling for national unity. They urged rebels to disarm and demanded that the international community halt its bombing campaign that began in mid-March.

Abed Abu Hamada, leader of the Megharbah tribe from the central Libyan region near the Gulf of Sirte, told the televised meeting: “We reject the fighting in Libya...we strongly reject foreign intervention. We call on our brothers in the eastern regions – the armed ones, the misled ones – we call them to a peaceful dialogue."

Mansour Khalaf, who heads Libya's largest tribe, the Warfalla, was quoted by WSJ as telling reporters, that although he denounces the uprising and supports Col. Al Qathafi’s leadership, he would not send armed followers to join the Libyan army's fight against the rebels, as some other tribes have vowed to do.

Fathi Baja, one of the leaders of the rebels' Transitional National Council that is based in Benghazi, reportedly dismissed the government's assertion that the tribal leaders at Thursday’s convention represented the whole country.

Baja said Libya doesn't have 850 tribes. He described Al Qathafi as a “big liar," and that “He never had any legitimacy." He added: “The Libyan people did not choose him."
source-The Tripoli Post