Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said Monday he had ordered the
army to end the blockade imposed by armed protesters on oil
terminals in the east of the country.
The country's oil production has fallen sharply after rebels
blocked the terminals in the summer last year, bringing the
government on the brink of a financial crisis.
But in a news conference posted on his website, Mr. Zeidan said
he asked "the minister of defense to order the chief of staff to
move toward oil ports."
Mr. Zeidan has frequently warned he would use force to end the
blockade by an armed group seeking autonomy for the eastern region
of Cyrenaica.
But though the Libyan navy has shot at tankers trying to enter
the rebel-held ports, no concrete action has been taken to retake
the terminals.
The blockade of the terminals has cut the country's production
to nearly a third of its normal level at 600,000 barrels a
day--costing $10 billion to the government.
Write to Benoit Faucon at benoit.faucon@wsj.com
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