Representatives of about 100 militias from western Libya said Monday they
had formed a new federation to prevent infighting and allow them to press
the country's new government for further reform. The move was a blow to the
National Transitional Council, which helped lead the eight-month uprising
against longtime ruler Gaddafi that ended with his capture and death in
October. The NTC has struggled for months to stamp its authority on the
country and has largely failed to decommission or bring under its control
the hundreds of militias that fought in the war. Ibrahim al-Madani, a
commander whose brigade joined the new federation, said the fighters would
not give up their arms to what they considered a corrupt government. "We
didn't turn against Gaddafi but against a corrupt regime," al-Madani told
reporters at a news conference. "We will not lay down our weapons until we
are assured that the revolution is on the right track". As the situation
remains fluid 11 people were killed in tribal fighting in the desert area of
Kufra Monday, said Farag Saad of the local hospital. Most of the dead were
civilians, he said. Kufra area lies about 500 miles (804 kilometers) south
of the early coastal city of Derna, deep in the desert. The clashes pitted
fighters from local tribes. It was unclear what sparked the clashes.