23 jihadists sentenced to death in Libya
A Libyan court on Monday condemned to death 23 jihadists convicted of fighting with the Islamic State group in the north African country during chaos that followed dictator Moamer Kadhafi's fall, the prosecutor's office said.
This was the first group of 320 alleged IS jihadists to be tried and sentenced.
IS had captured the central coast city of Sirte in 2015, setting up a stronghold before being driven out the following year by forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord in power at the time.
Fourteen other accused were sentenced to life in prison, after the trial that began last August in the western city of Misrata, the prosecution statement said.
The accused were Palestinian, Sudanese and Libyan. All had been in custody since December 2016 and were convicted of joining a terrorist group, as well as murder.
The court found nine others guilty of those same charges and sentenced them to terms of between three and 12 years in prison, the prosecution statement said, adding five were acquitted.
In addition, the court sentenced three minors to 10 years in prison each, said lawyer Lotfi Mohaychem, who represented families of anti-is fighters killed in the battle for Sirte.
The suspects appeared in the dock clad in blue prison overalls, bearded and with shaven heads.
Relatives of those killed in the Sirte battle filled the packed the courtroom.
"As lawyers for the victims' families we see the verdict of the court as very satisfying and very just," Mohaychem said. "The court sentenced those whose guilt was demonstrated and acquitted those against whom there was insufficient evidence."
When the verdicts were read, cries of joy and applause filled the room along with shouts of, "God is greatest" and, "The blood of the martyrs has not been spilled in vain".
Mostafa Salem Trabelsi, who described himself as the uncle of one of the victims and father of another who is disappeared, said he felt "relieved despite the pain".
Armed groups clash on streets
Gunshots rang out in Libya's capital on Monday following hours of fighting between two armed groups both aligned with the divided country's Un-backed government, local medics and media reported.
Several residents in Tripoli were lightly wounded in the clashes which began Sunday night and spread across several neighbourhoods.
Fighters from rival militias -- the Al-raada Force and the 444 Brigade, both of which are loyal to interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah's Tripoli-based government -- clashed after a member of the 444 Brigade was arrested.
Libyan television and online media showed videos of the fighting posted online by social media users.
An elderly man "was injured in the arm by shrapnel as he fled his home in Ain Zara by car", the Tripoli Rescue Service said on its Facebook page, also condemning damage to ambulances during the gun battles.
On Sunday, armoured vehicles and fighters were seen deploying in Jrabra Street, a busy commercial area in the capital's east, and the central Ras Hassan residential district.
The University of Tripoli said on Monday it was forced to "close its doors" and suspend exams as a security measure.
The fighting was reportedly halted after the intervention of another armed group that is responsible for security, the Stabilisation Support Agency.
As lawyers for the victims' families we see the verdict of the court as very satisfying and very just. The court sentenced those whose guilt was demonstrated and acquitted those against whom there was insufficient evidence."
Lotfi Mohaychem