Hundreds of Libyans protest after killing of activist, calling for ban on Islamist parties

7/27/2013

TRIPOLI, Libya — Hundreds of Libyans have demonstrated in the capital Tripoli and other main cities, demanding that Islamist parties be dissolved following Friday’s assassination of a well-known activist who criticized them.

The demonstrators took to the streets after dawn prayers today setting fire to tires then gathered at Tripoli’s main square shouting, “We don’t want the Brotherhood, we want the army and the police.” The same slogans were raised by Egyptians on Friday against that country’s Muslim Brotherhood group.

Tripoli’s protesters stormed the headquarters of a Brotherhood-affiliated party and another Islamist-allied party, destroying furniture. Witnesses say a Brotherhood party office was also stormed in the eastern city of Benghazi.

Abdul-Salam Al-Musmari, who used to publicly criticize the influential Muslim Brotherhood group, was killed by unknown assailants in a drive-by shooting in Benghazi.