"LIBYAN NATIONAL ARMY" ATTACKS PARLIAMENT IN TRIPOLI
The Libyan government has proposed the parliament go into recess after the worst violence the country has seen 2011. On Friday the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army headed by renegade General Khalifa Haftar sent fighters to Benghazi in an attack that killed 40 people. Later, General Haftar's loyalists stormed the parliament building in Tripoli and kidnapped 10 staffers, killed 2 people, and injured 55 more before retreating. The Libyan National Army claims that the current parliament has no legitimacy and they aim to rid the government of Islamists. Algeria and Saudi Arabia closed their embassies in response to the growing unrest and many foreign companies are urging nonessential employees to vacate the country. (BBC, May 19, 2014; Reuters, May 18, 2014)
IRAQIS GO TO THE POLLS
The political party of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has won the largest share of parliamentary seats in national elections. According to preliminary results, Maliki's party won at least 94 seats while the two main rival political parties, the Sadrists and the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), won 28 seats and 29 seats respectively. Both parties are opposed to Prime Minister Maliki serving a third term. The mandate is especially important to Maliki because his government is in the midst of fighting a fierce battle with armed Sunni groups, particularly the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant which has taken control of territory in Anbar province and neighboring, war-torn Syria. The official election results will be released in the coming weeks after the electoral commission rules on voter fraud allegations. (Reuters, May 19, 2014)
169 BROTHERHOOD SUPPORTERS ACQUITTED IN EGYPT
An Egyptian court acquitted 169 Muslim Brotherhood supporters who were charged with an illegal gathering. This follows a decision from a judge earlier this year who sentenced 1,200 Brotherhood and members to death in two separate cases, which sparked a humanitarian outcry around the world. The decision is the first to break the recent trend of mass convictions for Brotherhood members and supporters. (Reuters, May 19, 2014)
JORDAN TO DEPLOY FORCES TO SYRIAN BORDER
Reports show that the Jordanian military is preparing to redeploy its forces along its border with Syria. This comes after Jordanian state television reported that the country's air force attacked and destroyed military vehicles trying to cross the border from Syria after said vehicles ignored several warnings to stop. The Syrian state news agency, SANA, denies any Syrian vehicle involvement in the issue. (Jerusalem Post, May 19, 2014)
NEW EVIDENCE OF CHEM WEAPONS USE IN SYRIA
France recently asserted that credible evidence exists to demonstrate chlorine gas has been used as a chemical weapon in Syria at least 14 times since October. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed that he has also seen evidence and raw data that implies as much. Kerry has ambiguously promised there will be consequences for these actions and has agreed to expand humanitarian, diplomatic, and military aid to the rebels, stating that Washington is willing to bypass the UN if they continue to demand that aid be channeled through the Assad government. Although President Obama approved of a pilot program earlier this year to sell antitank missiles to a moderate rebel group, the president last week said that he would not approve of the sale of antiaircraft missiles. (Washington Post, May 15, 2014)
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