Libyan arm fights with rebels

March 24:

Libyan troops fought with rebels occupying oil ports over the weekend after fighters attacked an army base where military reinforcements were preparing for an offensive to break the blockade, according to reports.

Anti-aircraft gunfire and explosions were heard late at night and again after dawn on Saturday in Ajdabiya, the hometown of rebel leader Ibrahim Jathran, near the main eastern city of Benghazi, Reuters reported.

The central government in Tripoli gave Jathran a two-week deadline on 12 March to end a blockade of three oil ports or face a military assault.

Last Sunday, US forces stormed a tanker that had made it as far as the eastern Mediterranean after loading crude at one of three ports Jahtran's men have occupied.

On Saturday morning, troops loyal to Jathran attacked an army camp which had been reinforced after the government issued its threat of a military offensive, residents told Reuters.

"You can hear heavy shooting at several places in Ajdabiya," one resident was quoted as saying. Casualties were reported on social media but Reuters was unable to get immediate confirmation from hospitals.

Jathran's movement could not be reached and there was no government comment.

State news agency LANA only ran a brief story late on Friday, with the army's chief of staff warning citizens not to approach any military installation.

The town is divided between Jathran supporters and those who fear his oil blockade will lead to state collapse.

The weak government in Tripoli is unable to control dozens of militias who helped oust former leader Muammar Gaddafi but then kept their weapons to grab power and oil.

Analysts say the nascent army, sill in training, will struggle against Jathran's forces which gained much experience in helping to overthrow Gaddafi during the NATO-backed uprising.

Jathran's movement says it seized three eastern oil ports to demand regional autonomy and a greater share of oil wealth.

News of the fighting comes as Lana reported on Saturday an oil tanker seized by US commandos after it loaded crude at a Libyan port controlled by armed rebels has been handed back to Libyan authorities.

The Morning Glory tanker was due to arrive later on Saturday at Libya's Zawiya port after being escorted through international waters by the US Navy, Libyan officials said.

US special forces seized the tanker a week ago off Cyprus, days after it left Libya with a cargo of crude from Es Sider port, which is controlled by rebels who want more autonomy and oil wealth in defiance of the central government.

Source: http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article1356008.ece?