Laying down their arms in Libya

Handing over arms in Libya.

On Saturday hundreds of Libyans handed over weapons used in last year's war, as part of a bid to rid the streets of arms.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TRIPOLI CITIZEN, MOHAMED SALAMA, SAYING:

"As part of the initiative I have handed over my weapon. We want our country to be safe and secure and we want freedom and goodness. We don't want weapons anymore. We don't want to see it. We want to live our lives. It is over. The time of war is over. We got rid of the tyrant, so it is over, Thank God."

Libya's new rulers have struggled to impose their authority on a country awash with weapons. Many Libyans are fed up with militias that still patrol the streets, and often take the law into their own hands.

The September 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, which killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans, was followed by anti-militia protests in the city last week.

The government is now vowing to dissolve militias, but is also offering public backing to some of the most powerful armed groups as it seeks to build stronger security forces.