The Libyan head of state dreams of a democracy without extremism.
Mohamed Youssef el-Megarief, president of the National Assembly, was elected in August as Libya’s head of state by Parliament. On Saturday 22 September, he ordered the dissolution of all militias. A lifelong opponent of Gaddafi, a chartered accountant by training and an Americophile, he has foiled at least ten attacks by henchmen of the former regime.
Le Point: How do you explain the assassination of the American ambassador and his colleagues in Benghazi on 11 September?
Mohamed Youssef el-Megarief: Before answering directly, I would like people to know that the whole of Libya is in mourning after this tragedy. More than 95% of Libyans condemn this assassination. But I also think it will not damage American-Libyan relations, because the United States knows that Libyans do not condone this kind of act. It is a friendly country, and it will remain so. Those who committed this act will be tried and severely punished. I give that undertaking before international public opinion.
There has been talk of a premeditated act. Is that also your view?
This attack appears to have originated in the death of Abu Yahya, a leader of Libyan origin of a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda, who was killed in Pakistan. For those who assassinated the American ambassador, it was supposedly an act of revenge. The anti-Islam, blasphemous film was only a trigger. The date was not chosen at random: this was indeed an attack planned by Al-Qaeda. There is in any case no justification for this kind of action. Islam has nothing to do with these people who distort it. I hope public opinion will not confuse our religion with these horrific crimes. Islam has never advocated violence. Those who claim it in order to carry out attacks have absolutely no respect for this religion.
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Sihem Souid