LIBYA

Islamist Militia Withdraws From Benghazi

After being forced from last remaining base by protesters.

At least one person is dead and more than 20 are wounded after pro-government protesters forced the Islamist militia group Ansar al-Sharia from their final remaining base in Benghazi early Saturday. “No more al Qaeda!” protesters chanted as they overtook the base to cries of “The blood we shed for freedom shall not go in vain!” More than 30,000 Libyan demonstrators marched Friday to call for the disbanding of the country’s growing number of militias and voice their concern over Islamic extremism in Libya—especially last week’s attack on U.S. government officials. “After what happened at the American Consulate, the people of Benghazi had enough of the extremists,” one Libyan demonstrator told Al Jazeera. But Friday’s militia expulsion isn’t purely the result of spontaneous civic activism: the sweep appears to be part of a coordinated action by Libyan police to rid Benghazi of the Islamist militia.