Eastern Libya, a breakaway oil monarchy?

This video is about the overthrow of King Idris of Libya in 1969.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

Benghazi declares autonomy in Libya

Tuesday 06 March 2012

by Our Foreign Desk

Tribal leaders and paramilitary commanders declared oil-rich eastern Libya a semi-autonomous region today.

At a congress in Benghazi chiefs and militiamen appointed Ahmed al-Zubair al-Senussi, a relative of former Libyan king Idris, leader of Cyrenaica‘s governing council.

Mr Senussi pledged to uphold the rights of the region but also said his council recognises the Tripoli-based National Transitional Council (NTC) to run Libya’s international affairs.

Congress organiser Mohammed Buisier, a Libyan national with US citizenship, said: “In Cyrenaica we would like to take care of housing, education and other things and would delegate national security and defence to the central government.”

The NTC has repeatedly rejected calls for Libya to be run on federal lines.

Mr Buisier refused to rule out unilateral action if the central government does not recognise Cyrenaica’s autonomy, saying: “I do not want to visit this. We will see.”

The congress has already formed its own army, the Barqa Supreme Military Council, which is made up of militiamen who participated in the Nato-backed insurgency last year.

Barqa commander Colonel Hamid al-Hassi said that he doesn’t take his orders from the NTC – and that the force was prepared to fight to assert its autonomy.

“Even if we had to take over the oil fields by deploying our forces there or risk another war, we will not hesitate for the sake of Barqa,” he said.

Thousands of people marched to Benghazi’s courthouse on Monday night chanting: “Libya is united” and “Do not break up Libya.”

Libya leader vows to halt autonomy bid. Mustafa Abdel Jalil accuses Arab countries of funding effort to carve out eastern state and threatens force against it: here.

Libya autonomy declaration poses threat of civil war: here.

Refugees face dangerous and often impossible escape from Libya: here.

Libya: Benghazi’s Declaration for Semi-Autonomy Comes As No Surprise: here.

The Tunisian Government officially recalled the consul from the east Libyan city of Benghazi, announcing the end of his mission. This decision was made after the consul participated in a conference in Benghazi on March 6th, 2012, that called for the autonomy of Eastern Libya, historically known as Cyrenaica: here.

Cyrenaica autonomy can be first step towards split of Libya: here.

Libya: Human Rights Council Monitoring Needed – Militias Committing Serious Crimes: here.

Libya: Civilian Deaths From Nato Airstrikes Must Be Properly Investigated: here.

Almost 150 people have been killed in a desert town in southern Libya following six days of intercommunal strife: here.

Libya: Vulnerable Somalis Suffer to Reach Country in Search of Safety and a Future: here.