Abdel-Fattah Younis, the military leader of Libya’s anti-Gaddafi rebels, has been killed while in custody of his own political leaders.
AP (“Fear, confusion among Libya’s rebels after killing“):
Fear and confusion have gripped the de-facto rebel capital in eastern Libya after the rebel military chief was shot dead.
Heavy gunfire crackled throughout Benghazi early Friday as residents worried that the death of Abdel-Fattah Younis could shatter their military, leaving the rebel-held east vulnerable to attack by Moammar Gadhafi’s forces.
Much remains unclear about Younis’ death. A rebel leader said Younis was summoned for questioning but shot dead with two aides before he arrived. He said rebels arrested someone for the attack, but had not found the bodies.
Rebel security officers said earlier that they had arrested Younis for questioning about alleged ties to Gadhafi’s regime, raising the possibility he died in their custody.
This doesn’t do much to dispel the notion that the United States and its NATO allies have sided with a bunch of amateurs. The fact that we have recognized the people responsible for Younis’ murder as the legitimate government of Libya raises some uncomfortable questions.
