Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Libya has reported the launch of military operations meant
to stabilize the North African state.

Officials said the interim government in Tripoli has ordered the first
military operations in Libya since the fall of Col. Moammar Gadhafi. They
said Libyan Army units have been deployed along the borders of the North
African state to block smuggling and end tribal violence.

“It will do everything in its power to solve this problem,” Libyan Chief of Staff Gen. Yusef Manqoush said.

On Feb. 23, the Libyan Army operated in the eastern desert near the borders of Egypt and Sudan. Officials said hundreds of troops were assigned to Kufra to stop battles by rival tribes in which more than 50 people were killed.

“Units of the national army are now in Kufra inside the airport and will enter vital areas in the city in order to secure the city,” Manqoush said.

On Feb. 27, the United Nations reported more than 100 dead in tribal warfare this month. A UN statement said about 50 percent of Kufra’s residents have already fled amid the fighting.

The post-Gadhafi military has been hampered by infighting as well as tribal and militia violence. Officials said several thousand militia
fighters have been recruited into the Army and would be trained for internal and border security missions.

“The revolutionaries [militia fighters] will not join the government
initiative until they clearly know what are the benefits they will receive,”
Abdullah Naker, a leading Libyan militia commander, said. “The people need
higher salaries, economic stability, medical insurance, houses and cars,
young single men want to get married.”

  Abdullah Naker, eastern desert, Gen. Yusef Manqoush, Kufra, Libya deploys first post-Gadhafi military op, Libyan Army, Moammar Gadhafi, tribal violence