Libyans flock to hand over weapons amid uproar over militias

Some drove in with armoured personnel carriers, tanks, vehicles with mounted anti-aircraft guns and hundreds of rocket launchers.

The call by the Libyan chiefs of staff was promoted on a private TV station in August. But it may have gained traction in the wake of the attack against the US consulate in Benghazi in which the American ambassador and three staffers were killed.

The incident was followed by a popular uproar against armed militias which have increasingly challenged government authorities.

In response, the government has called on all militias to disband or join a command centre co-ordinating between the army and the militias. The government had relied on many militias for security during the turmoil following last year’s ousting and killing of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Ahmed Salem, an organiser of the efforts in Benghazi, said more than 800 citizens handed in weapons at the main collection point. More than 600 different types of arms were collected, including anti-aircraft guns, land mines, rocket launchers and artillery rockets.

Moussa Omr, a former fighter who lives on the outskirts of Benghazi and who fought against Gaddafi, said it was time to turn over his weapon to the state.

“When I saw the announcement on television I came to Benghazi with my wife and son to hand over my weapon to the national army because I want to move from the stage of the revolution to state building,” he said.

“I trust the national army. They have been with us on the front line and I know them one by one. I don’t need this weapon after today, the militias have been expelled from Benghazi and the national army will protect us.”

Army colonel Omran al-Warfali said Saturday’s turnout was impressive. “Hundreds of citizens came since the early hours of this morning to hand over their weapons from all segments of society, men and youth, women, and 
even children came to hand over bullets they found it in the streets,” he said.

Previously, the government had estimated more than 200,000 people in Libya were armed. It has attempted a number of disarmament schemes, including offering people jobs in exchange for handing over their weapons, or offering to buy guns, but those offers had shown few results.

A military official has been urging citizens in ads on a popular TV station to hand in their weapons. The station, Libya alHurra or Free Libya, showed live footage of the collection and transfer of weapons to military barracks.