TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Clashes between rival Libyan militias killed at least one and wounded a dozen others yesterday a day after more than 40 people died in the worst street fighting in the capital Tripoli since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi two years ago.
Libya’s Prime Minister Ali Zeidan called for calm, but his armed forces struggle to control militias, Islamist militants and other former fighters who refuse to surrender their arms after helping to oust Gaddafi in a NATO-backed revolt.
Friday’s violence broke out when militiamen from the coastal city of Misrata opened fire on protesters who had marched on their brigade quarters in Tripoli to demand they leave. Clashes spread to other parts of the city, killing 42 people.
Gun battles erupted again yesterday to the east of the capital in Tajoura, where rival militiamen clashed at checkpoints set up to stop more Misrata fighters entering Tripoli, Mohammad Sasi, a local member of Libya’s congress said.
At least one person was killed and 15 more wounded in the Tajoura clashes, a Health Ministry official said.
