The Health Minister of the east-based government, Othman Abduljalil, said in a press conference on Friday that 15 people were killed and 16 others were injured in the October 06 clashes with whom he described as “40 terrorists accompanying former Defense Minister Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathi," who came "to destabilize Benghazi.”
Abduljalil added that among the 15 killed persons, there were six fighters from Haftar’s forces in the clashes that took place in Al-Salmani neighborhood once Al-Barghathi and his convoy arrived in the area after being away for quite a long time since he defected from Khalifa Haftar’s forces and joined the internationally recognized Government of National Accord at the time in 2016.
In the same presser, the Libyan Military Prosecutor in eastern region, Faraj Al-Sosae, announced that the former Defense Minister, Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathi and his companions sustained serious injuries in the clashes that took place in Benghazi on October 06. The announcement came after the Internal Security Apparatus of the east-based government had published a video showing the arrest of Al-Barghathi, who appeared to be in good health conditions and without any signs of injuries.
The Military Prosecutor said Al-Barghathi’s injuries were very serious, while media outlets affiliated with Haftar said on the same night when the footage of Al-Barghathi was released that the former Defense Minister was freed. Therefore, the new statement of Al-Barghathi suffering serious injuries that came eight days after the clashes’ incident had been completely at odds with the first announcement.
