Militia groups acting on their own in Benghazi

The Libyan government is faced with increasing difficulties in trying to promote security throughout the country, as the number of newly formed armed militia groups grows, Press TVreports. Months after the end of the Libyan war, the National Transitional Council (NTC) is dealing with a sharp rise in the use of guns and weapons among the Libyan people. “We have nothing to do with politics. Our job is to ensure safety for Libyans. Only police divisions officially belong to the Interior Ministry, but other groups are only acting on their own,” Benghazi Criminal Investigation Department’s Abdelsalam Almahdawy says. Tensions are also on the rise between the Criminal Investigation Department of Benghazi, one on the fallen fortresses of slain ruler Muammar Gaddafi and the newly formed Preventive Security Apparatus. The Preventive Security Apparatus has also been accused of committing violations including vandalism and torture, which was denied by its commander. Meanwhile, fresh clashes have erupted in Libya over calls for a federal system of governance and a plan to divide the country into three self-governing regions. The ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) is opposed to the proposal to establish a federal system. On October 20, Libya’s eight-month revolution eventually led to the capture and execution of the country’s authoritarian ruler, putting an end to the 42-year dictatorship of Gaddafi.