Fresh fighting in Libyan capital

A temporary ceasefire between warring militia factions in the southern suburbs of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, has been broken with the outbreak of fresh clashes.

Libya’s health ministry this week reported 26 deaths and 75 injured. Civilians accounted for 15 of the dead and 51 of the injured, the Libya Herald reported.

The temporary ceasefire brokered on Monday night at the urging of the United Nations Libya Mission broke down on Wednesday after Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade (TRB) commander Haithem Tajuri returned from his pilgrimage Haj trip to Saudi Arabia.

There are accusations that both sides of the warring militias – the TRB and the Tarhuna-based Kani 7th Infantry Brigade – are making unreasonable demands.

The fighting involved the indiscriminate firing of medium and heavy weaponry which, in addition to the high number of casualties, caused extensive damage to homes and businesses. A mosque was also hit.

Eyewitnesses reported a significant number of armoured vehicles heading towards the fighting and the possibility of militias from other towns and cities joining in the fighting.

An air strike was also carried out on the city of Tarhuna, 65km south-east of Tripoli.

Meanwhile, there were reports of Nato reconnaissance planes circling over the capital and media speculation that the Tarhuna air strike was carried out by the US Africa command. – ANA