On 20 August, unconfirmed reports claimed that a car belonging to an Egyptian diplomat, Abdelahim Rifai, was blown up near his home in Benghazi. According to security sources no one was hurt in the attack. On 15 August, Benghazi-based political activist Ibrahim Aguidar stated that Qadhafi loyalists were responsible for the recent spate of assassinations and explosions in Benghazi. He claimed that this activity was planned and that loyalists were provided with large sums of money in the final days of the regime. The same day, the Grand Mufti of Libya, Sheikh Sadiq Al Gharyani, issued a fatwa condemning the recent bombings and assassinations in Benghazi. In a statement issued through the Libyan Fatwa Office, Gharyani singled out the Benghazi assassinations, emphasising the lack of justification for vigilante and revenge attacks, even if the person attacked was involved with the former regime. Separately, the Benghazi-based Islamist Raf Allah Al Sahati Brigade claimed that it has sent some fighters to Syria, to fight against Asad-regime forces.
Reuters reported that a senior National Oil Corporation (NOC) official stated that the Ras Lanuf refinery will resume operations by 28 August. The report claimed that the oil held in tanks at the refinery has been sold to make room for fresh output. Ras Lanuf is Libya’s largest refinery and can process 220,000 bpd. However, on 15 August, the NOC refuted the report, but gave no further details.
The Libyan media reported that one person was killed in Al Kufra in the southeast of the country on the morning of 15 August. The incident took place during the arrest of four people who were reportedly stealing a car. Further reports claimed that the dead man was Sudanese and that the other three arrested were fromChad.
