Arabs supporting sedition in east- Libyan leader

Libya: Libyan leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil charged on Tuesday that some Arab nations were supporting and financing sedition in eastern Libya, hours after tribal and militia leaders declared autonomy for the region.

“Some sister Arab nations unfortunately are supporting and financing this sedition that is happening in the east,” Abdel Jalil told reporters at a press conference in Tripoli, without naming names. “Their fear made these sister nations unfortunately support this so that the revolution does not spread to their countries,” he said. “What is happening today is the start of a conspiracy against the country ... This is a very dangerous matter that threatens national unity,” Abdel Jalil warned.

Earlier, a meeting attended by some 3,000 people in the main eastern city of Benghazi declared the oil-rich region of Cyrenaica autonomous, raising fears the country may break up in the wake of Moamer Kadhafi's downfall last autumn. The conference in Benghazi, which was the cradle of an eight-month uprising against Kadhafi that ended in his capture and killing, also called for a return to federalism in Libya.

Tripoli,Wednesday,AFP