Libyan tribes declare breakaway zone

Tribal leaders and militia commanders have declared oil-rich eastern Libya a semi-autonomous state, a unilateral move that the interim head of state called a “dangerous” conspiracy by Arab nations to tear the country apart six months after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.

Thousands of representatives of major tribes, militia commanders and politicians made the declaration at a conference in the main eastern city of Benghazi, insisting it was not intended to divide the country.