FRI 29 - 3 - 2024
 
Date: May 25, 2015
Source: The Daily Star
Libya raid by government loyalists hits oil tanker: report
TRIPOLI: Forces loyal to Libya’s internationally recognized government carried out an airstrike Sunday on an oil tanker delivering its cargo to a power plant run by the rival administration, a report said. The General Electricity Company denounced as “sabotage” the attack at the plant near Sirte, in central Libya, saying it was likely to cause disruptions to power supplies across the country due to a lack of fuel.

The vessel, Anwar Afriqya, had been transporting a light load of fuel from Greece, said the plant’s deputy director, Hasan al-Farjani, quoted by LANA, the former state news agency now in the hands of Islamist-backed authorities in Tripoli.

Rida Essa, commander of coastal guards in central Libya, said the tanker had been unloading gasoil for Sirte’s power plant when it came under attack.

The raid, which LANA said was conducted by forces loyal to army chief Gen. Khalifa Haftar, caused a fire on board and several injuries among crew members, as well as employees at the plant.

“Our jets warned an unflagged ship off Sirte city, but it ignored the warning,” Saqer al-Joroushi told Reuters. “We gave it a chance to evaluate the situation, then our fighting jets attacked the ship because it was unloading fighters and weapons,” he added.

“The ship now is on fire. We are in war and we do not accept any security breaches, whether by land, air or sea,” Joroushi added.

Flames rose from the ship as firefighters battled to prevent an explosion and a potential ecological disaster, the Electricity Company said in a statement quoted by the agency.

Libya’s is still in the midst of a power struggle between two governments fighting for control, with the internationally recognized government operating out of the east since losing control of the capital in August to the rival grouping.

Sirte’s power plant on the western outskirts of the city is controlled by forces loyal to the Tripoli government. The rest of the city has fallen into the hands of ISIS militants which have exploited the chaos and security vacuum in Libya four years after the ousting of Moammar Gadhafi.


 
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