The Chief of the Benghazi security department, Salah Huwaidi, rejected to hand over power to Colonel Salah Al-Khafifi, who is appointed to take his post by the Al-Thanni-chaired government’s Deputy Interior Minister.
“I have called Abdullah Al-Thanni and he confirmed he did not know of this new appointment.” Huwaidi said, pointing out that the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister-designate should agree on the appointment to be valid as per the government’s decision to allow the Deputy Interior Minister to replace security departments’ chiefs.
“Al-Thanni must issue a statement allowing the Deputy Interior Minister firing me or dismissing it, or the decision will be rendered illegal and I won’t implement it.” Huwaidi explained.
Meanwhile, some of the security department’s offices followed the order of the appointment of Al-Khafifi immediately after the decree was issued, while others held on to Huwaidi as the Chief, which could mean that a new conflict could take place in Benghazi soon.
Last November, there was a similar conflict that was about to turn into a new war as some persons who are pro-Defense Minister-designate of the UN-proposed government, Mahdi Al-Barghathi, appointed Brigadier General Salim Qadir in the place of Huwaidi after pro-Huwaidi’s gunmen murdered former fighters from Brigade 204 Tanks, which was headed by Al-Barghathi.
