Interim Libyan government a protest magnet

TRIPOLI, Libya, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Protests are mounting against the council that replaced Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, with one critic calling the National Transitional Council "a monster."

Those unhappy with the regime include Libyans still loyal to the slain leader, those who say the NTC is not moving fast enough to establish a democracy and those who fear the Muslim Brotherhood is gaining too much power, The Washington Times reported.

The protests have sometimes turned violent. Armed men Tuesday seized control of Bani Walid, a former Gadhafi stronghold 90 miles from Tripoli. There were reports they were Gadhafi loyalists and opponents of the council.

A group in Benghazi Saturday vandalized a car used by Mustafa Abdul Jalid, the council's chairman. Abdul Hafiz Ghoga resigned Saturday as Adul Jalid's deputy, two days after he was attacked by university students in Benghazi.

"The Libyan people have identified the NTC as the root of all problems in Libya," said Mohamed Benrasali, a spokesman for the Misrata city council. "The NTC has become a monster and a corrupt one at that due to the lack of transparency. And, ultimately, these protests may lead to the fall of the government."