BENGHAZI, Libya Galvanized by anger over the killing of the popular American ambassador here last week, thousands of Libyans marched through this city on Friday, demanding the disarming of the militias that helped topple the dictatorship but have troubled the country with their refusal to disband.
In a show of mass frustration at the armed groups, protesters seized control of several militia headquarters on Friday night and handed them over to Libyas national army. * They also stormed the headquarters of Ansar al-Sharia, a hard-line Islamist militia that has been linked to the attack on the United States mission in Benghazi that killed the ambassador and three other Americans. *
As members of the militia fled their headquarters, protesters there set at least one vehicle on fire, and there were unconfirmed reports that several were wounded by gunfire from the departing gunmen.
The killing of the ambassador, J. Christopher Stevens, who was considered a hero in Benghazi because he worked closely with the rebels who toppled Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi last year, appeared to be the spark for the protests on Friday, though hardly its only cause. The militias, which started forming soon after the February 2011 uprising against Colonel Qaddafi, emerged as a parallel and often menacing authority after his downfall, seizing territory for themselves and asserting their authority over the fledgling government.
In western Libya, turf wars between militias resulted in regular street fights with heavy weapons. Months ago, members of Ansar al-Sharia brandishing weapons paraded through Benghazi, the birthplace of the anti-Qaddafi uprising, and called for an Islamic state.
The attack on the American mission in Benghazi that killed Ambassador Stevens, on the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks last week, was an affront to many in Benghazi, which the ambassador had made his base during the uprising. He became a familiar, cheerful presence at public events.
We want justice for Chris, read one sign among the group of an estimated 30,000 Libyans, including families, who marched into Benghazis main square on Friday to protest in front of the main encampment of Ansar al-Sharia. Some held signs reading The ambassador was Libyas friend, and Libya lost a friend.
Members of Ansar al-Sharia held a counter-demonstration, and arguments erupted between the opposing sides, but no violence at least not initially. Protesters chanted: You terrorists, you cowards. Go back to Afghanistan.*
It was unclear whether the backlash against Ansar al-Sharia and the other militias represented an opportunity for the government to consolidate its authority in the post-Qaddafi era in Libya or could lead to new violent confrontations.
Ansar al-Sharia and other militias regard themselves as patriotic guardians that provide security in the power vacuum that formed in many parts of Libya after Colonel Qaddafis authority collapsed.
Ambassador Stevens and the others were killed in mayhem that was ostensibly provoked by anger over an anti-Islamic video made in the United States, which has been roiling the Muslim world for nearly two weeks. But officials have said there are indications that the killings were coordinated and planned.
The Obama administration, which has been careful about assigning blame in the death of Ambassador Stevens and the others, has begun to call the killings a terrorist attack. The change in language came as Republicans in Congress have criticized the administration over what they have called its failure to anticipate the problems in Libya. Some Republican lawmakers have moved to cut off aid to Libya as a result.
But one powerful Republican, Senator John McCain, counseled against such a move, citing the pro-American demonstration in Benghazi on Friday.
These brave people in Libya are friends of America, he said in a statement. They want our help and need our help. And we must continue to provide it to them, which is exactly what Chris Stevens would have wanted.
Suliman Ali Zway reported from Benghazi and Kareem Fahim from Beirut, Lebanon. Rick Gladstone contributed reporting from New York.
