Libyan army retakes rebel-held oil ports
Iran Press TV
Wed Apr 9, 2014 10:25PM GMT
Rebels in Libya have handed over control of two eastern oil ports to the army under a deal to end a multi-month crisis in the North African country.
Colonel Ali al-Shikhi, the spokesman for the army general staff, confirmed on Wednesday that Libyan soldiers had taken control of the ports of Zueitina and Marsa al-Hariga.
The rebels reached the deal with the government on Sunday, paving the way for handing over the two terminals this week and cede the other two ports – Ra's Lanuf and Sidra -- within two to four weeks.
The rebels seized the four oil terminals last July to pursuit their campaign for autonomy in the eastern Cyrenaica region.
The move cut oil exports by 1.25 million barrels per day, costing the country more than $14 billion in lost revenues.
Officials say operations at the al-Hariga port would resume by Sunday.
The ports have been blockaded since last summer.
Militant tribes in both eastern and western oil-producing regions are demanding a bigger share of the country's oil wealth.
Last month, US Special Forces captured a renegade tanker off Cyprus after the militants tried to sell oil independently.
The incident triggered a political crisis in Libya, with congress firing Prime Minister Ali Zeidan over the issue.
On March 8, militants at Sidra managed to load oil into a North Korean-flagged tanker that had docked there without government permission.
Libyan authorities later said they had taken control of the tanker. However, the vessel managed to slip through the Libyan naval brigade.
Also on March 12, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing sanctions against illegal crude exports from Libya's militant-held oil facilities.
Libya has been witnessing numerous clashes between government forces and rival militia groups, who played a key role in the 2011 popular uprising that toppled former dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
The former rebels refuse to lay down arms despite efforts by the central government to impose law and order.
DB/MAM/MHB
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