Michel Cousins

TRIPOLI — Traffic outside the General National Congress buildings here was brought to a near standstill as hundreds of Amazigh protesters from across Libya demonstrated against the law voted by Congress four weeks ago to reserve just two of the seats on the Constitutional Commission for their community. They claim the move shows that Congress is deliberately marginalizing Libya’s linguistic minorities.



Two seats each were also reserved for the Tuareg and Tebu communities.



The demonstration was organized by the Supreme Amazigh Council of Libya, along with town councils in the Tamazight-speaking areas of the Jebel Nafusa, such as Jadu, Nalut and Yefren.



Rumors that the demonstration turned violent and that Congress was attacked were untrue, Congress members said.



However, a number of demonstrators were able to gain entry to the Congress chamber but were later removed from there. — Libya Herald