Tantawi visit roils Libyan activists

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By Essam Mohamed for Magharebia in Tripoli – 17/01/12

Protests greeted Egyptian interim leader Hussein Tantawi on his visit to Libya Monday (January 16th) as human rights activists pressed for the handover of Kadhafi-era officials.

Demonstrators gathered outside Tripoli's Corinthia Hotel, where talks were held between Field Marshal Tantawi, head of Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), and Mustafa Abdel Jalil, head of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC). The protest was organised by the Co-ordinating Committee of Civil Society Organisations and the Organisation of Libyan Rights Activists.

Rally participants carried banners reading, "Your co-operation, Tantawi, will serve interests of two peoples if you arrested Kadhafi's aides and confiscated money," "Egypt's strategic interests are with Libyan people and not with aides of buried Kadhafi," and "Libya's interests are linked to protection of its security both inside and outside."

Demonstrators persisted notwithstanding efforts by Libyan Foreign Minister Ashour Ben Khayal to stop the protest, saying that the field marshal was Libya's guest and that sit-ins should be staged at squares and not at the hotel. The Libya visit was Tantawi's first official trip abroad since assuming power last year.

Civil society organisations issued a statement in which they demanded the Libyan and Egyptian authorities take effective and speedy measures to stop Kadhafi's aides in Egypt and to recover the money that supports their activities, saying that such money must be returned to the Libyan people. They also demanded that Kadhafi regime officials be handed over to Libya for trial.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim El Keib told reporters that he personally raised the topic of former regime officials with Tantawi, adding that the issue would take time.

"Field Marshal Tantawi, on behalf of the Egyptian people and government, wants to congratulate Libyans for the success of their revolution and to activate the relationship between us and Egypt," El Keib said.

The Libyan prime minister also said both sides agreed to continue security collaboration, particularly on the issue of border control. Talks also focused on Egyptian workers in Libya and Libyan investments in Egypt

Meanwhile, the protesting rights groups said Libyans enjoyed strong ties with their brothers in Egypt, which they described as eternal. They added that relations with Egypt's government and military council would depend on whether or not Kadhafi regime loyalists were handed over in a timely manner.

The field marshal's visit to Libya was characterised by secrecy and tight security, with his talks with NTC chief Abdel Jalil closed to the press. Tantawi also did not take reporters' questions. Egyptian security officers could be seen openly carrying weapons and Libyan army and police forces were deployed at the hotel to protect dignitaries.

This content was commissioned for Magharebia.com.