Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Libya has named a military chief amid militia clashes that
paralyzed the capital of the North African state.

The interim government has named Yusef Manqoush chief of staff of
Libya’s armed forces. The appointment on Jan. 3 took place as Libya’s
capital, Tripoli, was rocked by militia fighting.

“If there’s no security, there will be no law, no development and no elections,” Mustafa Abdel Jalil, chairman of the National Transitional Council, said. “People are taking the law into their own hands.”

Officials said Manqoush, a Misrata resident who served as deputy defense minister in the interim government of Prime Minister Abdul Rahim Al Kib, was appointed general. They said his priority was to integrate tens of thousands of militia fighters into the military established after the ouster of Libyan
ruler Moammar Gadhafi.

Despite a Dec. 20 deadline, Tripoli remains torn by rebels from Misrata and Zintan, said to wield huge arsenals. NTC has selected Osama Juwali, a leading figure in the Zintan militia, as defense minister.

“We have no security because the fighters have not handed their weapons
despite the chances they’ve been given to do so through local councils,”
Abdul Jalil said.

On Jan. 3, Zintan militia fighters stormed a security compound with
rocket launchers and machine guns. At the same time, the new military failed
to capture the airport from Zintan. In all, at least four people were
killed.

“The situation has come under control,” Col. Mustafa Noah, a senior
Interior Ministry official, said.

The interim government has been forced to rely on some militia-based
forces. They included the Tripoli Military Council, an Islamist militia,
assigned to maintain security over parts of Tripoli.

“The people who caused the problem were arrested and will face justice,”
Abdul Hakim Belhadj, a leader of the Tripoli Military Council, said.

In April 2011, Manqoush was captured by Gadhafi forces during the
NATO-supported revolt against the Tripoli regime. In August, he was freed
after Gadhafi fled Tripoli.

On Jan. 4, Libyan rebels rejected Manqoush, saying he was not among the
six candidates listed by the National Transitional Council. Most of the
names on the council list were proposed by rebel groups.

“We feel that the procedure with which Manqoush has been appointed is
illegal,” Behlul Assid, the founder of a rebel coalition group, told a news
conference.

  Abdul Rahim Al Kib, Col. Mustafa Noah, Moammar Gadhafi, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, National Transitional Council, Osama Juwali, Tripoli paralyzed by fighting in the streets; New military chief of staff named, Yusef Manqoush, Zintan militia