Protests against former Libyan rebels

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Protests against former Libyan rebels

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Hundreds of residents and policemen in Tripoli protested jointly against former rebels.

08 December,2011 12:14 pm

Hundreds of residents and policemen in Tripoli protested jointly against former rebels who toppled Moamer Kadhafi but are still camping out in the capital and still have their weapons.Men, women and children waving Libyas national flag and shouting slogans against the militias gathered in Tripolis landmark Martyrs Square in a rally organised by the city council and backed by the interim government.Safety comes when there are no weapons, teacher Salwa Lamir told AFP as she held a banner reading: No weapons in Tripoli.Were protesting against weapons and people using weapons. I want the militias who came from outside Tripoli to leave. They have to go back to their homes and continue with their studies, she said.Around her the crowd chanted The people want safetyOn Tuesday, the interim government gave its firm support to a two-week deadline for militias to quit Tripoli, backing up a threat from the capitals council to lock down the city if they fail to do so by December 20.The militias, mostly from the cities of Misrata, Zintan, took part in the liberation of Tripoli in August and have been in the city ever since, often occupying buildings to use as their headquarters. They have manned checkpoints on key roads and also at installations such as the capitals international airport.