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Libya chaos, insecurity to continue

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Press TV has conducted an interview with Franklin Lamb, an international lawyer in Beirut, to talk about the abduction of the Libyan Prime Minister, Ali Zeidan.

What follows is an approximate transcription of the interview.

Press TV: A lot of shock over this recent abduction of prime minister. What do you make of it?

Lamb: I think based on the latest that we know and I was in contact with a congressional staffer late Washington time early this morning, and it looks like Ali al-Zeidan played it a little fast and loose.

The presumption is that it was prime minister Ali al-Zeidan who gave the green light for the Delta Force through their CIA operatives in Tripoli to go ahead with this operation but for political reasons, he had to deny it and then he did deny it but the Americans would not have done that – Washington is telling me – without the prime minister’s OK and they have announced this.

John Kerry said that they had the permission of the government. So because of all the chaos that is going on in Libya and the fact that this gentleman rather like some of the coalition figures early on, even though he is a member of an important tribe, Zeidan tribe, he does not have the political connections and he is not trusted by the militias and they think he is too close to the Americans.

They think that he gave the green light and now they are going to try to use him maybe to get the Americans to return Abu Anas al-Libi but they are not going to do that….

Press TV: As you said, many are saying that the Libyan prime minster is basically paying the price for allying with the US. However, what does this say about the security situation, the power structure within Libya that the government itself is not really in control?

Lamb: That is true and it has never been in control, as you know, since the so-called revolution. So that is their major problem and that is why people are so concerned about the Libya model being transplanted in Syria and which for years and years to come, there will be total chaos.

So one has to respect some of these people like Zeidan who want to serve their people but it is not going to be easy and in his case, I think he is just too close and is seen as some sort of a traitor and people are now vowing revenge not just against officials but Americans and other foreigners until they can undo this act.

But again I maintain that they are not going to be able to get Libya back. So it just adds to the continuing chaos and lack of security in that country.

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