In addition to Saturday's bulldozing of the Sheikh Abdessalem al-Asmar mausoleum in Zliten, east of Tripoli, Islamists bombed, bulldozed and burned other Sufi sites in the city. The extended violence, which left at least three people dead and scores wounded, is posing a problem to the ruling national congress, which has requested a security briefing from Interior Minister Fawzi Abdelali.

Mohamed al-Megarief, speaker of the national assembly, condemned the attacks. "Such acts are rejected and illegal under the law and Shariah," he said in a speech.

Megarief said that he had asked the defense and interior ministries to intervene, "but they have not carried out their duty in protecting these sites." He also said it was "regrettable and suspect" that members of the security forces and former rebels may have taken part in the attacks.

Megarief added that various ministers - Abdelali among them - and intelligence and security officials have been called to appear before the assembly to answer deputies' questions. Rumors have circulated that Abdelali and Defense Minister Osama Juili could both face dismissal.

mkg/tj (AFP, Reuters)