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RABAT, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Libya's Interior Minister Abdel Fattah Younes al Abidi has announced his defection and support for the "February 17 revolution", news channel Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday.
The channel aired amateur video footage that showed Abidi sitting at his desk and reading a statement that also urged the Libyan army to join the people and their "legitimate demands".
"I hereby announce that I have abandoned all my duties to respond to the February 17 revolution based on my total conviction and the legitimacy of their claims ... I urge the Libyan army to ... serve the people and support the Feb. 17 revolution".
(Reporting by Souhail Karam)
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