TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Gunmen in pick-up trucks surrounded Libya's justice ministry Tuesday to step up demands for former aides to deposed dictator Muammar Gaddafi to be barred from senior government posts, Reuters witnesses said.
Tension between the government and armed militias has been rising since authorities began a campaign to dislodge the gunmen from strongholds in the capital Tripoli to help curb lawlessness afflicting the oil-producing state since Gaddafi's demise.
Militiamen first ringed the foreign ministry on Sunday and have targeted other state buildings to push for a law to be passed to ban former aides to Gaddafi, who was overthrown and killed in a 2011 uprising, from government service.
The unrest prompted the General National Congress to postpone its next sitting, scheduled for Tuesday, to Sunday. A spokesman said this would give lawmakers time to consider legislation that protesters are calling for.
"This is definitely an attempt to impose their agenda on the political process. It's not massively out of character - we have seen this before - but it is definitely a worrying trend," said a Western diplomat in Tripoli.
The justice ministry was surrounded by gunmen occupying the roads outside the building with around 20 pickup trucks, including one with Grad missiles positioned at the gates.
A rival demonstration in support of the government was also planned in Martyrs Square on Tuesday afternoon.
If passed, the law sought by protesters could force out several long-serving ministers as well as the congress leader, depending on the wording adopted.
The process has been paralysed by wrangling within the legislature and many Libyans are angry about the national assembly's failure to yield an agreement.
About 100 people gathered in the capital's Martyrs Square on Tuesday to voice their support for the legislation, shouting, "Oh, martyrs, your blood will not go in vain", referring to those who died fighting to topple Gaddafi.
One of the demonstrators calling for the measure - known as the "political isolation law" - to be passed said the government would fall if it did not give in to their demands.
"If they don't pass the political isolation law, we will protest here and topple the government," said Faisal Alaqsa.
The build-up in armed protests this week has increased fears of a security breakdown in Tripoli and prompted the German embassy to suspend some activities. Protesters have also unsuccessfully tried to storm the interior ministry.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gunmen-surround-libyan-justice-ministry-105853751.html
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