AFP
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NOS News•today, 05:12
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At least 13 people have been killed in gun battles between rival militias in the center of the Libyan capital Tripoli. A number of civilians, including a 12-year-old child, are among the victims, according to a spokesperson for the emergency services. Dozens of people were injured.
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Hundreds of people have fled the neighborhood where the clash between the militias took place. The battle has also spread to other parts of the city. The only functioning airport in Libya was closed for hours due to passenger safety concerns.
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It is unclear what is the immediate cause of the recent violence. The power struggle between the militias has been raging since the ouster of dictator Gaddafi in 2011. Lately it has been relatively quiet in Libya, where two governments, one in Tripoli and one in the east of the country, are contesting each other’s leadership with the support of militias. In recent months, there have been several outbreaks of violence due to the tensions, but these were usually over within some time.
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Riots at parliament
Fighting broke out in May this year when parliament-appointed Prime Minister Fati Bashaga sought to settle in the capital, Tripoli. He was stopped by supporters of his rival, interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who said he would only hand over power to an elected government.
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Both governments have called on the militias to stop fighting. The UN mission in the country has also called on the well-armed militia members to control themselves.
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