Libyan protesters storm local NTC HQ

People protest against the National Transitional Council and its chairman, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, in the city center of Benghazi, Libya, on December 16, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/222382.html

Angry protesters have stormed the local headquarters of Libya's ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) in the eastern coastal city of Benghazi after besieging the building for hours.

Witnesses said the incident occurred late on Saturday after wounded veteran revolutionary fighters held a demonstration outside the NTC's headquarters in Benghazi -- situated 651 kilometers (404 miles) east of the capital Tripoli -- and a group of them stormed the building.

Protesters, armed with stones and iron bars, ransacked the offices. Some people even hurled empty plastic bottles at NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil as he came out to calm down the crowd.

“Go away, go away," protesters chanted as Abdul Jalil spoke. Demonstrators also damaged a vehicle used by the NTC chairman.

A brigade of guards finally secured a passage, allowing Abdel Jalil and other NTC members to leave the building.

The incident happened two days after NTC Deputy Chairman Abdul Hafiz Ghoga was manhandled by university students in Benghazi.

Benghazi is the birthplace of the Libyan uprising, which ousted former dictator Muammar Gaddafi in August 2011.

Protesters have been holding regular demonstrations in Benghazi for several weeks, demanding the ouster of Gaddafi-era officials and more transparency about how the NTC is spending Libyan assets.