“Zidan’s efforts are complicated by the ongoing legal problems of former National Transitional Council (NTC) leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, who will be questioned by both military and civilian prosecutors regarding his role in the July 2011 assassination of General Abdel-Fattah Younis, Gadhafi’s former interior minister and one of the first major defectors from the old regime. Jalil and 10 other NTC officials have been charged with Younis’ death, though none have been arrested.” Sidney Blumenthal — Email to Hillary Clinton

General Abdul Fatah Younis held the rank of Major General and the post of minister of interior. On 22 February 2011, he resigned and defected to the rebel side in what was to become the Libyan Civil War. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

General Abdul Fatah Younis was considered a key supporter of Muammar Gaddafi. To many, he stood as the No. 2 in the Libyan government.

On 28 July, Younis was placed under arrest to face questioning in Benghazi, the de facto capital of Libya under the NTC, on suspicion that his family had contacts with the Gaddafi regime. The NTC said that he was summoned from the Brega front to answer questions regarding the misuse of military assets, but he never made it to the meeting. Later that day, Younis was killed under unclear circumstances. His body and those of two other officers were found dumped on the outskirts of Benghazi. They had been shot, and the bodies burnt afterwards. NTC head Mustafa Abdul-Jalil said Younis was killed by pro-Gaddafi assailants, and the head of the group responsible had been arrested. The Libyan government gave another version of the event, saying that Younis had been killed by the rebels because they thought he was a double agent. In an email to Hillary Clinton, Sidney Blumenthal stated that “In July and August 2011 NTC ‘security officers’ discovered evidence that Younis was in secret contact with Saif al Islam Qaddafi. In response to this report a sensitive source stated that Jalil ordered NTC security officers to assassinate Younis while en route to a meeting at NTC headquarters. Jalil then reported that Younis had been killed by Islamist dissidents among his troops.” Another leaked email by Sidney Blumenthal reports that French intelligence DGSE was informed that Jalil was responsible for the assassination of NTC military commander General Abdul Fatah Younes.

About Lockerbie

General Abdul Fatah Younis made the following statement about the Lockerbie tragedy:

“Libya is delighted by his return and has always viewed him as a political hostage and never acknowledged him as a prisoner. Libya had no connection with the Lockerbie affair. The international community was led to believe that Libya was behind the incident but history will prove the truth. I am convinced that Megrahi was innocent and was a victim of a huge international conspiracy.” RELATED POST: Remembering Lockerbie — Pan Am 103 Quotes RELATED POST: One Year Ago — Clinton’s Emails: Moussa Koussa and The “Lockerbie Bomber” RELATED POST: Lockerbie — An open letter from Dr Jim Swire

Obituary: Abdel Fattah Younes

REFERENCES

General Abdul Fatah Younis Al-Obeidi — Wikipedia

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Remembering the Mysterious Death of General Abdul Fatah Younis Al-Obeidi (1944 – July 28 2011)