Libyan militia hand airport to police

Benghazi - A powerful Libyan militia says it has begun withdrawing from the country's main airport and will hand over security to the government, whether a police force is ready to assume control or not.

The militia from Libya's western mountainous area of Zintan has been in control of the international airport since the fall of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi's regime in August, in the absence of a police or military force.

Zintan militia spokesman Khaled al-Zintani says former rebels have told the government they will leave their posts Sunday evening.

The government promised in a statement to take over security at the airport by Sunday afternoon, but later issued a statement saying the handover was running behind schedule. The statement did not elaborate. - Sapa-AP