According to information obtained by Intelligence Newsletter, Colonel  Kadhafi carefully proceeded with changes among the colonels who direct  the country's five security battalions in advance of the People's General Congress which opened on 13 June.

• Colonel Massud Abdul Hafiz,  who is known as Libya's Mister Chad, was named head of the battalions with the rank of Security Coordinator General.

• Colonel Khalifa Akhich was named head of the Syrte security battalion,  replacing Sayed Kaddaf Ed-Dam who was transferred to Tripoli;

• Colonel Al Barrani As-Chkal, who commanded the Gharian military region- where he was replaced by Colonel Al Mabrouk Sabhan - took over the Tripoli security battalion;

• Colonel Ahmad Khaddaf Ed-Dam, cousin of the "Guide" and coordinator for Egyptian affairs, took over the Tobruk security battalion;

• Colonel Sa'd Uaidate (a Kaddadifa tribe member) was maintained as head of the missile battalion which defends Tripoli, but has increased responsibilities within the Defense Committee presided over by Colonel
Kadhafi;

• Colonel Hassan al-Khasseh, who directs the Tripoli security force, was transferred to Sebha in the center of the country with orders to put an end to the conflict that broke out in May between two tribes, the Makarihas and the Kaddadifas.

I.N.- After the Libyan defeat in Chad in 1987, the five to six thousand troops of the security battalions remain the only really operational elements of the army and are above all faithful to Colonel Kadhafi. Their protective role will be reinforced as Colonel Kadhafi carefully begins a certain economic liberalization (privatizing small and medium
sized businesses) and a political detente (beginning of dialog with opposition elements such as Abdul Mumin el-Houni in exile in Cairo).