Several hundred Berbers marched into the courtyard of the Libyan prime minister's office on Sunday to express their anger at the country's new cabinet, which does not include anyone from their large ethnic group. The Amazigh, or Berber, people were stunned when the country's new interim government was announced on Tuesday and none of the 26 ministerial posts went to one of their own.
They say they make up around 10-15 percent of the population and played an important role in the rebellion that toppled dictator Muammar Qadhafi.
"We do not recognise this government, and all Libyans must know that we are a part, a powerful and effective part of the country," said Mohammed Kaabr, a doctoral student and part of a delegation that spoke to Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib. Protesters chanted "Where is El-Keib?" and "There is no difference between Amazigh and Arab!" on the steps of Keib's office while talks went on inside. Kaabr said the meeting was cut short so Keib could try to calm the boisterous crowd.
In addition to demanding a greater say in Libya's new political order, the Amazigh are seeking recognition of their language and culture. Their demands are causing tensions with the Arab majority.
The dispute is one of dozens in Libyan society that have come to the fore since the end of Gaddafi's 42-year rule, making it difficult for Libya's new leaders to govern.
"In Switzerland, there are four official languages. One of them is spoken by 0.5 percent of the population," said Abdul Salam Saki, a petroleum engineer from the coastal town of Zuara, near the Tunisian border, denouncing Arabic's hegemony in Libya.
Protesters, many of them waving the yellow, blue and green Amazigh flag, shoved their way past security guards into the car park in front of the prime minister's office. They stopped at the front door of the building, where a group of security guards prevented them from going in.