Soldiers, Gadhafi Guard Killed In Militants’ Attacks Libyan Leader’s Policies Provoke Conservative Muslims’ Anger

Thirteen soldiers and a bodyguard of Col. Moammar Gadhafi have been killed in the latest eruption of violence between the Libyan government and Muslim militants, a leading Arabic-language newspaper reported Saturday.

The clashes occurred near the Libyan capital of Tripoli and the Mediterranean city of Benghazi and were claimed by the shadowy Islamic Martyrs’ Movement, Al-Hayat newspaper said.

In an attack east of Benghazi, militants with hand grenades and rifles, some of whom were disguised as shepherds, attacked a small base. Twelve soldiers were killed and seven wounded in the clash, the newspaper said, citing a spokesman for the opposition group.

The group said it burned mobile homes on the base and seized rifles, ammunition and four rocket-propelled grenades.

It did not say whether it suffered any casualties in the Aug. 2 attack, and there was no way to immediately confirm the report.

Outside Tripoli, the militants broke into the apartment of Fathiah al-Zawariyah, a member of Gadhafi’s female bodyguards. They killed Lt. Col. Mohammed Boushwishah al-Gadhafi as well as al-Zawariyah, the newspaper said. There was apparently no relation between the officer and the Libyan leader.

The group did not say when that attack occurred.

Gadhafi has allowed little opposition to his government, but policies like allowing women to become his personal bodyguards have angered conservative Muslims.