Libya rebel attack: There were 200 militants in 50 cars

Libyan militia fighters demanding the reinstatement of a government handout clash with security forces at the interim government's HQ, leaving one guard dead. One person was killed and several injured when militiamen protesting outside the Libyan prime minister's office in Tripoli started shooting, highlighting the country's volatility a month before its first general election. Witnesses and officials said the militiamen, from Libya's western mountains, were at the prime minister's compound to demand cash from the government when the protest turned violent. Government spokesman Nasser El-Manee told a news conference one person from the government security forces was killed. He said four people were injured, of which three were from the security forces and one was a demonstrator. At one stage, in an attempt to defuse the crisis, El-Manee allowed some protesters to enter the building to discuss their demands. "Some [of the protesters] spoke of the bonuses given to revolutionaries and why it was stopped, others spoke about the wounded, others spoke about the prisoners who used to be in Gaddafi's prisons and why they weren't compensated. While others speak about the missing people and what the government's policies are towards them, I assured them that these rights are guaranteed and the government will prioritise addressing these issues," he said. The issue at the centre of the dispute appeared to be the suspension of a government scheme set up following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi from power. The scheme offered former fighters cash payouts in return for the risks they took to fight Gaddafi forces. But the scheme was suspended when it emerged a lot of cash was handed out to people who didn't fight, and in some cases people who were already deceased. "At around 12 o'clock, the number of [militants] increased to approximately 200 people in around 50 cars equipped with various weapons. The strange thing is that all these weapons and all this power is to demand money or compensation. The other strange thing is that the government or state has not even cancelled these policies, but have placed procedures to help protect state finances," he said. A security official said 14 of the protesters were arrested.