Libya army orders Islamist-led militias to capital
By ESAM MOHAMED and MAAMOUN YOUSSEF, Associated Press
May 19, 2014 5:17 AM CDT
In this image made from video provided by the Libyan national army via AP Television, Tripoli joint security forces on vehicles with heavy artillery stand guard on the entrance road to the parliament area after troops of Gen. Khalifa Hifter targeted Islamist lawmakers and officials at the parliament...   (Associated Press)

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Libya's army chief has ordered the deployment of Islamist-led militias to the capital, a day after the storming of the parliament building in Tripoli by a renegade general's troops.

Monday's development paves way for a possible showdown between the militias — which hail from Libya's western and central regions — and the anti-Islamist troops allied with Gen. Khalifa Hifter who staged the parliament attack Sunday and said they suspended the Islamist-dominated house, blaming it for empowering Islamic extremists.

According to a statement posted on the official Facebook page of Libya's Chief of Staff media office, Nouri Abu Sahmain signed an order to "Libya's Central Shield" — an umbrella group of powerful militias — to confront "attempts to take over power" in Tripoli.

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