The Faiez Serraj-aligned Interior Ministry based in Tripoli and led by Fathi Bashagha announced last Friday (28 August) that it had identified one of the suspected government-aligned shooters at the unarmed civilian demonstrators in Tripoli last Monday 24 August.
The Ministry said that it had started investigations and questioning the suspect and had identified the (government recognized) force he is part of. It said it will refer him to the Attorney General after completing its investigations and will send a report to the prime minister.
It will seek all those accused of targeting civilians threatening the lives of peaceful demonstrators.
It warned demonstrators to keep to the law and demonstrate peacefully without causing damage to property and keep to their just demands peacefully and in a civilized and democratic manner.
It will be recalled that the Interior Ministry aligned to the internationally recognized Libyan government in Tripoli had acknowledged the shooting by pro-government forces against unarmed civilian demonstrators in Tripoli last week.
The demonstrations took part in several cities, including Tripoli, Misrata and Zawia. Non were reported in eastern-based cities under the control of Khalifa Hafter.
The demonstrations were against the poor living conditions in the country, including frequent and lengthy power and water cuts over the years, fuel, cooking gas and cash shortages, poor services and security, and rising number of cases of Coronavirus.
In its statement last week, the Tripoli Interior Ministry acknowledged the right of citizens to peaceful demonstrations and confirmed that it had provided security for the demonstration.
It had also revealed that it had identified the shooters which it referred to as ‘‘hidden plants’’ within the peaceful demonstrators. It claimed that they were not part of the Interior Ministry but did not deny that they were recognized by the Tripoli government.
The Ministry said that it had already opened a criminal investigation into them and that it will publicize the results of this investigation and warned that it will enforce the law equally on all (civilians and government-recognized militias).