Seraj Essul and Reem Tombokti TRIPOLI — A defiant Prime Minister Ali Zidan Monday said that the government would not listen to opinions at gunpoint under any circumstances. “We respect the opinions of everyone if they come through the election box,” Zidan said, “but we won't accept opinions voiced through weapons, even if the price is our necks and souls”. The prime minister pointed out that the revolution was to allow people to hold their own opinions and not have one ideology forced upon them. Speaking at a General National Congress (GNC) event focusing on establishing a culture of human rights in Libya, Zidan was referring to the militiamen, mainly from Misrata as well as Suq Al-Juma, Tajoura and elsewhere who have been surrounding government buildings in Tripoli. “The militias who have put the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under siege, trying to force them to impose the Political Isolation Law, are a challenge to human rights,” Zidan said. “It is because imposing your opinion on others, using force and weapons is against the principles of human rights.” The militia are demanding that the law, which would ban thousands of Gaddafi-era officials from holding high-ranking positions, be passed. Other demands include the closure of Libyan embassies in countries which did not support the revolution. “We are willing to be patient, because these young people don't know what is right,” Zidan said. “And we want to help our people, we want to help our youth,” the prime minister added. — Libya Herald
