Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Libyan militias have pledged to maintain operations until
they are paid to disband.

Militia commanders said they were demanding financial incentives from
the interim government in Tripoli before they would allow their fighters
join the new Libyan military. They said the demands included generous
salaries and loans.

“The revolutionaries [militia fighters] will not join the government
initiative until they clearly know what are the benefits they will receive,” Abdullah Naker, commander of one of the two largest militias in Tripoli, said.

The militia refusal has threatened a National Transitional Council plan to recruit at least 50,000 fighters to the new military. Officials
acknowledged that only a few thousand of the estimated 250,000 militia fighters joined Libya’s military and security forces.

In an interview to Libyan television on Feb. 26, Naker cited demands for salaries, loans, medical insurance, automobiles and housing loans. Naker’s militia, which claims a membership of 20,000, has refused to give up control over large parts of the Libyan capital.

“The people need higher salaries, economic stability, medical insurance, houses and cars, young single men want to get married,” Naker said. “We want
Islamic, interest-free loans so that we can live in prosperity. Why doesn’t
the government give us loans of 100,000 Libyan dinars [$60,000] to realize
our dreams?”

The other major militia in Tripoli has been headed by Abdul Hakim
Belhadj. Belhadj, believed financed by Qatar, has sought to garner
political power through the formation of an Islamist movement.

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