BENGHAZI/ZUWAYTINA, Libya: Rumors and evidence of a "fifth column" presence continue in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, surrounding the assassination of the rebels’ top general, as violence breaks out Saturday night in city leaving several dead.
On Saturday afternoon, the Libyan opposition’s Transitional National Council (TNC) confirmed that General Abdel-Fattah Younis had been killed after he was summoned to Benghazi from the front lines for questioning on "military matters" by the TNC.
Some believe that Younis, who was Libyan leader Moamar Qaddafi’s right-hand man until he defected and joined the rebel movement in February, was killed by rebels because he was in secret communication with the Tripoli-based regime.
Meanwhile, others suspect he may have been killed by rogue rebel forces seeking revenge for his past actions in the Qaddafi government.
However, rebel government and military leaders insist that Qaddafi loyalists are responsible for the assassination and subsequent violence.
The army spokesmen for the Libyan rebels, Ahmed Omar Bani, in a press conference with reporters, hinted that the killing was possibly the work of elements loyal to Qaddafi seeking to drive a wedge between rebels.
"The martyr, General Younis, was betrayed by some people before he made it to Benghazi," he said, adding that Libyan State TV had broadcast two days before the assassination that a "surprise" was in store for the rebel movement.
"The assassination of the martyr General Younis was the painful surprise."
Elaborating on the details that led to General Younis’ assassination, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the head of the TNC, told reporters Saturday that an order to call Younis in for questioning was given "illegally," because it was issued by four civilian judges in Benghazi who had no right to arrest a military official.
Abdel Jalil also announced the formation of a committee "at the highest levels" to investigate the circumstances of the arrest warrant against Younis, as well as the perpetrators of the assassination.
According to Abdel Jalil, the head of the brigade that had been ordered to transport Younis to Benghazi was under arrest.
At a press conference Saturday night at a military base in Zuwaytina, on the front lines outside Ajdabya, the head of the Union of Revolutionary Forces told reporters that Mustafa Rubaa, a member of the Union carried out the arrest order, but hinted that members under him carried out the assassination.
Union leader Fawzy Bukattaf also said he had no doubts regarding Younis’ loyalty to the rebel cause, saying that he was "with us from the beginning."
Instead, Bukattaf said he believed Younis may have been killed "due to his past" work with Qaddafi’s regime.
In an effort to reign in rogue armed groups operating in the name of the rebel movement, the TNC leader also announced he ordered all militias to disband and integrate under the TNC command structure.
"Those who refuse this order will be tried under the fullest extent of the law," Abdel Jalil added.
Meanwhile, many in Benghazi expressed mixed feelings regarding the assassination of General Younis.
"This was done by Qaddafi supporters; he’s the only one who could benefit from this. There aren’t many Qaddafi supporters here, but there’s some, and they are responsible for this. However, they won’t succeed in their attempts to split our people, we are united," Mohamad Tarig El-Obeidi, worker at the Port of Benghazi told Daily News Egypt.
However, Abdel Bassat, a clothing store owner, believes that the assassination was a good thing for the rebel movement.
"The crimes and mistakes of Younis outweigh the good things he’s done. In the end, he was talking with Qaddafi. He shouldn’t have done that," Bassat told DNE.
Tahir Majid Abdel Salam, a Benghazi taxi driver and former Libyan air force mechanic, laments the killing, but argued that it will have a positive, motivational effect on the rebels in their fight against the "Tyrant in Tripoli."
"Qaddafi’s trying to drive wedges (Fitna) between us. He even announced this on TV two days ago, that he’d bring a surprise to the rebel movement. This assassination I guess was that surprise. However, it will have the opposite effect. If you kill me or my relatives, you will get our entire family and tribe avenging our deaths. This is what will happen now, the rebels will grow stronger."
Meanwhile at a press conference Sunday, officials from the rebels’ defense ministry announced that rebel forces conducted an operation against a "fifth column" hideout the previous night, which started at 3 am and lasted eight hours.
The officials also said that the group, called the "Shakir Brigade," was responsible for the attack on a prison that released several Qaddafi loyalists, and was involved to some extent in the assassination of General Younis.
Two rebel fighters who participated in the operation told Daily News Egypt that the operation killed four members of the brigade, and led to the arrest of at least 30 more.
According to the rebels, the brigade was composed of several Libyans, in addition to numerous mercenaries from other countries.
