Armed Libyan militia capture Tripoli airport, block air trafficJune 4, 2012 - 18:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A militia of Libyan ex-rebels entered Tripoli International airport with tanks and armoured vehicles and completely blocked air traffic on Monday June 4, a day after their leader was arrested, officials said, according to AFP. "It is total confusion. Everyone is fleeing. Several armoured vehicles and tanks are positioned on the tarmac, blocking traffic," an official at the airport told AFP. "Cars mounted with anti-aircraft guns and armed men are surrounding the aircraft and preventing them from moving," another official said, adding that some passengers were forced to leave the planes. The official Lana news agency, citing witnesses, confirmed the "assault," saying that the motive of the gunmen was to pressure the government to explain the detention of their leader, Abu Ajila al-Habshi. Libya's interim government took control of Tripoli International airport in April from a coalition of brigades that had been guarding the facility since the capital's liberation in August 2011. The coalition of Zintan brigades was among the groups that fought in an armed uprising last year that ousted dictator Moamer Kadhafi after decades of autocratic rule. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months A court in Azerbaijan has extended the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan by five months. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |