Libyan rebels’ military commander killed by own comrades
Libya’s rebels said their military commander was shot dead in an incident that remained shrouded in mystery, pointing either to divisions within the movement trying to oust Muammar Qaddafi or to an assassination by Qaddafi loyalists.
The killing of Abdel-Fatah Younes, who for years was in Qaddafi’s inner circle before defecting to become the military chief in the rebel Transitional National Council (TNC), set back a movement that was at last beginning to acquire cohesion as international pressure on the Qaddafi regime intensifies.
“It seems this was an assassination operation organized by Qaddafi’s men. Qaddafi’s security apparatus has fulfilled their aim and objective of getting rid of Younes,” London-based Libyan journalist and activist Shamis Ashour told Reuters.
“By doing that they think they will create divisions among the rebels. There certainly was treason, a sleeping cell among the rebels. Younes was on the front line and was lured to come back to Benghazi and was killed before he reached Benghazi. This is a big setback and a big loss to the rebels.”
The killing, announced late on Thursday, coincided with the start of a rebel offensive in the west and further international recognition for their cause, which they hope to translate into access to billions of dollars in frozen funds.
The rebels said Younes was shot dead by assailants after being summoned back from the battlefield.
Witnesses said the killing was greeted with jubilation by Qaddafi’s supporters in the Libyan capital Tripoli.
After a day of rumours, rebel political leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil said Younes and two bodyguards had been killed before he could make a requested appearance before a rebel judicial committee investigating military issues.
It was not clear where the attack took place. Compounding the confusion, Jalil said the bodies had yet to be found.
Younes was not trusted by all of the rebel leadership due to his previous role in cracking down on anti-Qaddafi dissidents.