TRIPOLI, Nov 29, 2012 (AFP)
TRIPOLI, Nov 29, 2012 (AFP)
Former Libyan rebels have blocked access to the country’s biggest oil refinery, demanding medical treatment for injuries
from last year’s conflict, the facility’s head said on Thursday.
“A sit-in by those injured (during the revolution that ousted Moamer Kadhafi) in front of the refinery prevented workers from entering” the plant, said Imed bin Kura.
Witnesses said around 20 former rebels had been blocking the facility since late on Wednesday.
The refinery in Zawiyah, 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Tripoli, supplies around 70 percent of the country’s fuel, and a similar four-day protest there at the start of November cost the government $30 million (23 million euros),
according to the oil ministry.
On Thursday there were already queues forming at petrol stations in Tripoli, although Kura had said there was no danger of a fuel shortage.
He said Libya had imported a large quantity of fuel in the last few weeks.
Due to poor conditions in hospitals, Libyans often try to get medical treatment abroad.
A programme put in place by the government to treat former rebels abroad was stopped after it was abused.
