Human Rights Watch: Accord used anti-aircraft guns against protesters

Human Rights Watch today accused Libyan armed militias linked to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord of using automatic rifles and heavy weapons to disperse anti-corruption rallies last month in the capital, arresting, torturing and forcibly disappearing protesters.

10 September, 2020 13:23

NEWS DESK

The human rights organization documented between August 23 and 29 the Libyan militia's use of automatic rifles and anti-aircraft guns mounted on vehicles against the demonstrators.

The organization said in a statement that demonstrators were killed and others were injured in the violence. It added that at least 24 people, including a local correspondent were arrested and beaten.

Hanan Salah, a senior Libya researcher at Human Rights Watch said: "Political divisions and security concerns do not justify armed groups attacking protesters with automatic rifles and anti-aircraft weapons to intimidate them and disperse protests. Tripoli authorities should investigate and disclose the names of those armed groups and leaders who did not comply with the basic conditional standards and hold them accountable."

Hundreds of Libyans went to the streets of Tripoli and other cities under the control of the Government of National Accord headed by Fayez al-Sarraj last month to protest the deteriorating economic conditions.

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