Interview- Abdeljakim Belhadj: those who have evidence about my involvement in Tiguentourine attacks can bring it

Former leader of Libya’s Military Council Abdelhakim Belhadj denied allegations that he is involved in a terrorist attack carried out by Belmokhtar’s group on a gas complex in Tiguentourine (south of Algeria), more than a year ago. “Whoever has evidence against me, he can bring it,” he told Echorouk in an interview.

How do you describe security situation in Libya?

Libya is in this situation because we inherited a country without any regime, institutions and constitution. This increases challenges and we also inherited uncontrolled weapons.

But there are elected institutions.

The government is responsible for that because it did not supervise armed people. This led to thefts and killings among innocent people. All those acts are rejected.

Are you held responsible as well because you are armed battalions?

There are many tension spots in the country. The former regime is part of conflicts. We suffer from borders crisis. The Libyan interior and defense ministries failed to have control on borders.

You were also involved in this situation.

I was not going to defend myself. Let me remind readers that when we entered Tripoli and I was at the head of the military council, I surrounded armed people. Their number was limited and we submitted their list to the first government. I asked the armed people to choose between two things: either to join security institutions if they want to continue their actions or to resume their normal life.

Who do you hold responsible?

The first executive office led by Mahmoud Jibril. They created the supreme security committee without the interior and defense ministries. Because of that, the number of armed people went up. Thousands of prisoners have become revolutionaries and they are now a heavy burden on the new Libyan state.  

As far as I am concerned, I quitted and I do not lead any armed group.

You are talking about a new state. Are you for a civil or religious state?

I call for a civil state where powers are separated. We do not want a similar experience to the totalitarian governance. Libya should be democratic and free.

All it seems that Libya is not free.

The government is responsible for anarchy and the lack of security. It must resign and open door to national personalities capable of handling responsibility. Thanks Allah, Tripoli is living in relative stable situation.

You are accused of being behind the terrorist attack in Tiguentourine.

I tell those who accuse me that my grandfather supported Algerian fight against French occupation. I will not forget stories about Algerian heroes. We are proud of belonging to the region which includes Algeria.

Those accusations are no more than lies. I went to my friend Abdelhamid Bouzaher, Algeria’s ambassador to Libya to ask him about that.

I ask all those who accuse me to bring evidence about my involvement in the terrorist attack. I tell them that I did not export problems to neighbor countries. I was involved in a limited jihad action in Libya only. As for weapons, they are related to the former regime.

Are you not allowed to enter Algeria?

I was not told about that in an official way.

In Tunisia, you are accused of killing Chokri Belaid.

There are political agendas behind my accusation. I lodged complaints against some journalists. Some of them apologized.

Do you prefer security solution or advising methods to face terrorist groups?

No doubt, this problem needs a dialogue. It is necessary to discuss with extremists. The first step requires clarifying false ideas among some young people about Islam. They need to know that Islam is a moderate religion. The second aspect is development and the third one is to put conditions. Outlaws must receive strict treatment.

The region experiences the phenomenon of jihadists who are fighting Bachar El-Assad. What do you thing about that?

First of all, we support the Syrian cause. The regime kills people to stay in power.  Non-Syrians’ involvement would worsen the situation. Because of that, I do not advise people to go to Syria.

Many say you look like the man No 2 of Algeria’s dissolved-Salvation Front (FIS) Ali Benhadj. Do you believe that there are common points between you?

Benhadj is a preacher and I have never met him.