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(Image Source: BBC)
BY JOHN O’CONNOR ANCHOR LOGAN TITTLE
Hundreds of Libyans
are handing over their weapons to the government, at the government’s request. The BBC has
more.
“Hundreds of Libyans have surrendered their weapons after a request by the military.
The army said it was astonished by the positive turnout which may have gained moment in the
wake of the attack on Benghazi.”
The Global Post reports the Libyan army collected
a wide-variety of weapons …
“…mostly assault rifles, [and] large quantities of
bullets and tank shells. [However] six heat-seeking missiles were also handed in, with one person
saying they would surrender a tank at an ‘undisclosed location.’”
According to the Tripoli
Post, more than 800 citizens handed in 600 different types of weapons in Benghazi alone.
“Libya's
intention to rid its streets of arms and crack down on rogue militia groups, was heard.”
But
a writer for TIME Magazine notes the rogue militias controlling the country’s most
dangerous weapons have refused to contribute to the collection.
“Notably absent
from the two rallies were the militias that hold most of the country’s arms … [These]
Brigades … possess heavy weaponry that include surface to air missiles American contractors
have been trying to collect since the end of the revolution …”
TIME went on
to say as long as these groups refuse to join in, the country’s weapons collection drive
will be “a stalled one.”