TRIPOLI, July 30: Libyan rebels say the gunmen who shot dead their military chief were fighters allied in their struggle to overthrow Muammar Qadhafi.

The assassination of Abdel Fattah Younes, apparently by his own side, has hurt the opposition just as it was winning broader international recognition and launching an offensive against Qadhafi’s forces in the west of the country.

After 24 hours of confusion, rebel minister Ali Tarhouni said Younes had been killed by fighters who went to fetch him from the front.    He said a militia leader had been arrested and had confessed that his subordinates had carried out the killing.—Reuters