Libya: Gunmen storm private TV office

CAIRO (AP) — The official Libyan news agency says militia stormed the headquarters of a private TV network in Tripoli, looting and smashing equipment before abducting staffers.

LANA says some staffers were released following Thursday's attack on Al-Assama TV network, but that the militia was still holding the network top two managers.

It's unclear what prompted the attack.

The network is affiliated with a top political figure leading the largest coalition in parliament.

Mahmoud Shammam, who runs another TV network, told the official Libya TV that he tried unsuccessfully to reach government ministers and security officials to get their help.

Two years after the revolution that ousted and killed Libya's dictator Moammar Gadhafi, militiamen have filled in security vacuum, operating with impunity with the state relying on them as parallel security forces.

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Lawmakers dispute records for private gun sales

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Senate aide and a lobbyist say a dispute over whether to require record keeping for private gun sales is holding up a bipartisan compromise over expanding background checks for firearms transactions.

Requiring background checks for virtually all firearm sales is a keystone of President Barack Obama's proposed gun curbs. The checks are currently required only for sales at federally licensed dealers, but not private transactions at gun shows, online or elsewhere.

Two Republican and two Democratic senators have been looking for a compromise.

The aide and lobbyist say Oklahoma GOP Sen. Tom Coburn, a conservative playing a leading role in the talks, is balking at requiring record keeping for private transactions. They say he is concerned it could lead to a national gun registry, which Democrats say is untrue.

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