In defiance of Libya's internationally recognized National Transitional Council, a distant nephew of the former Libyan king Idris, Ahmed al Zubair, said to be the longest held political prisoner of Gadhafi since the 1969 revolutionary overthrow of the monarchy, has just stepped up to seize power over the oil in Cyrenaica, the Eastern portion of Libya.
Emir Idris as-Senussi, the Sufi king, formed the government of Cyrenaica in the late 40's, recognized by the Allies after WW2 in return for his support in North Africa against Germany and Italy.
King Idris in Exile in Egypt, 1965...al-Zubair, from NTC website
Asserting that he still recognizes the NTC, of which he is a member, al-Zubair nevertheless independently proclaimed the former Barqa state as autonomous owner of the rich Libyan oil fields
The statement claims autonomous control of the Eastern half of Libya, within a "federation" under NTC that includes the other portions of the nation, including the substantially more populous Western region, and other scattered tribal elements in the Southwest. The total population of Libya is about 6 million.
"I will be the leader who will protect justice and equality," Al-Zubair said. "I will protect your rights."
al-Zubair calls for resistance to Gadhafi, during recent uprising
The NTC has been putting together a 200 member assembly with 60 seats for the Eastern region. The assembly would then name a prime minister to form a new government to write a constitution.
NTC has denounced the proclamation today of Barqua as a bid to return to the old pre-revolutionary monarchist constitution, and illegitimate.
NTC has legitimacy problems of it's own, with growing international complaints about torture, ad hoc detentions and other offenses by the numerous various militias who have refused to stand down or suborn themselves to NTC control, as well as considerable difficulties in restoring public services.
It's unclear whether the Barqua proclamation will prove a fait acompli, despite such staunch NTC opposition, or whether this may lead to civil war.
The king's nephew, who graduated from the Iraqi Military Acadamy in 1958, has considerable forces aligned behind him, many of whom displayed images of King Idris during the uprising against Gadhafi.
The old Libyan flag from the monarchy was early on adopted nationwide by Libyan rebels, and retained by NTC.
Thousands of representatives of major tribal leaders, militia commanders and politicians made the unilateral Barqua declaration at a conference in Benghazi.
Barqua Council that announced autonomy
Among those who attended the conference were top leaders of heavyweight tribes of the eastern region, including the Ubaidat, Mughariba and Awajeer, which hold a powerful sway over large sectors of the population in the east. Also attending were commanders from the Barqa Army, a grouping of 61 eastern "revolutionary militias." Several senior Defense Ministry officials of the government also attended and supported the declaration.
Barqua Army vows to secure oil fields
Abu-Bakr Faraj, a deputy defense minister in the transitional Cabinet created by the NTC, attended the ceremony and said the move is meant to "correct the path of the revolution."
Barqa's newborn council will "cut off the road in front of the hijackers of the revolution from controlling our destiny," he said.
The NTC has repeatedly denounced ongoing agitation for Eastern autonomy, and condemned today's Barqua declaration.
"This is very dangerous. This is a blatant call for fragmentation. We reject it in its entirety," said Fathi Baja, the head of political committee of the NTC. "We are against divisions and against any move that hurts the unity of the Libyan people."
Baja, of the NTC, said that unilaterally creating a Barqa council "is a call for separation."
"What does it mean to have a Barqa army or to return to the old constitution? What does it mean even after you say (it is) under the umbrella of the NTC?" he said.
As the Barqua proclamation was announced in Benghazi, several thousand people demonstrated outside against it.
Some reports:
Al Jazeera
BBC
RT (Rus)
RT report on torture
Of interesting note, in surfing searches, I found this old reference, indicating early CIA support for "Islamic Emirate of Barqua"
CIA client
Also of note, is this old BBC report, which offers a benign and sympathetic perspective on Mr. al-Zubair, and the old monarchy.
BBC Background
And this, documenting award of EU's Sakharov Freedom of Thought award to al-Zubair, on behalf of Arab Spring:
Freedom of Thought
al-Zubair Wiki
King Idris Wiki