Libyan fighters demand payment

  • 13 years ago
With the after glow of having toppling Gaddafi behind them, Libya's fighters are making demands. They say they did the work --- now they want to be paid.
They took their concerns to the Prime Minister's office.
SOUNDBITE: Fighter Mohammed Othman Saleh Shaaban saying (Arabic):
"Our demands are for fairness and equality in the distribution of benefits to the revolutionaries and for all martyrs to be given their rights. There is no difference between east and west, we are all brothers and all the revolutionaries have one goal and we are united and we call on those responsible to treat the revolutionaries in a fair manner."
Incoming Prime Minister Abdul Raheem Al-Keeb empathized with the fighters.
SOUNDBITE: Incoming Prime Minister Abdul Raheem Al-Keeb saying (Arabic):
"I know that you have come here and are hurting because there was no fairness in the distribution this is your right and I have no problem whatsoever with that. I promise you that the issue of the wounded and the martyrs, along with your plight, the revolutionaries (will be dealt with)."
Al-Keeb has urged the international community to release Libya's frozen assets so it can pay fighters. It is just one of the issues the former academic is dealing with as he works to prepare the country of six million for a election and the writing of a new constitution.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.

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