Libya oil spat threatens fresh conflict

The oil terminal blockaders who exported crude from As Sidrah port on 12 March are bracing for possible armed conflict while also lining up further autonomous sales, according to Political Bureau of Cyrenaica (PBC) spokesman Osama Buera. Speaking by telephone from the border between east and west Libya, he told African Energy that Cyrenaican forces had erected a barrier at Wadi Al-Ahmar, west of As Sidrah, and had secured the ports against the advance of militias from Misratah who entered Sirte the previous day. “We will not initiate a war, but this is happening and we will have to defend ourselves,” he said.