Libya Islamist Militia Says in Control of U.S. Embassy Compound
An Islamist-allied militia group said Sunday it has "secured" a U.S. Embassy compound in Libya's capital, more than a month after American personnel evacuated from the country over ongoing fighting.
An Associated Press journalist walked through the compound Sunday after the Fajr Libya, an umbrella group for Islamist militias, invited onlookers inside.
Windows at the compound had been broken, but it appeared most of the equipment there remained untouched.
A commander for the Fajr Libya group said his forces had entered and been in control of the compound since last week.
A video posted online showed men playing in a pool at the compound.
In a message on Twitter, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Safira Deborah said the video appeared to have been shot in at the embassy's residential annex.
The militants told Agence France-Presse they had gone in to secure the complex of several villas in southern Tripoli to prevent it from being looted.
"Diplomatic missions have been invited to return to Tripoli, and in the meantime we are here to secure the area," one militiaman said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Source: Associated Press, Agence France Presse
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