BENGHAZI, Libya: Rebels on Sunday killed five members of a force led by military strongman Khalifa Haftar in the country’s east, sources said.
“Terrorist groups attacked at dawn Sunday three sites under the control” of Haftar’s forces south of the eastern city of Derna, they said.
Four of Haftar’s forces were also wounded, it added.
Derna was known for being a bastion for rebels even before the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed former ruler Muammar Qaddafi.
Haftar’s forces are waging a campaign against rebel and terrorist groups, including efforts to capture the eastern city from the “Revolutionary Shoura Council of Derna,” a coalition of militias close to Al-Qaeda.
On Saturday, a pro-Haftar fighter died as he took part in a mission to try and rescue a pilot whose plane had crashed in the same area.
The pilot who died in the crash, had been carrying out a raid against rebel positions when his fighter jet was hit by a missile, the news agency said.
Haftar’s forces have lost several aircraft in recent months.
The strongman supports an administration based in the country’s east that has refused to recognize the UN-backed Government of National Accord based in Tripoli.
Top committee votes in favor of constitutional draft
A committee tasked with writing a constitution for Libya voted on Saturday in favor of a draft, paving the way for Parliament to approve a referendum and causing uproar among opponents.
Critics, including secessionists and people in favor of the country’s 1951 constitution, called for a redo of Saturday’s vote.
Protesters broke into the committee’s building in the eastern town of Bayda, according to two committee members, who said they called on the committee to reconvene Sunday. It was not immediately clear whether the committee met again.
Committee members opposing the decision issued a signed statement saying that voters failed to consider amendments proposed by opponents to articles in the draft.
Amraja Noah, a committee member from the eastern city of Tobruk, said protesters stormed the building to stop the session, forcing the members to rush the vote.
He said 44 members attended the session and 42 voted in favor of passing the draft.
Libya’s rebels slain 5 in attack on Haftar’s forces
Libya’s rebels slain 5 in attack on Haftar’s forces
