Fresh fighting between rival militias breaks out in Libya

PanARMENIAN.Net - Fresh fighting has broken out between rival Libyan militias on the outskirts of the capital, Tripoli, after at least 43 people died in clashes on Friday, Nov 15, according to BBC News.

The latest violence in the suburb of Tajoura pits local militiamen against incoming fighters from Misrata.

Friday's clashes occurred after protesters marched on the headquarters of the Misrata militia to demand that it leave Tripoli, and were fired upon.

The government is struggling to contain militias who control parts of Libya.

On Saturday Prime Minister Ali Zeidan confirmed that fresh fighting was taking place in Tajoura. He urged all sides to "exercise maximum restraint", adding: "No forces from outside Tripoli should attempt to enter the city because the situation is very tense and could escalate further."

Officials also updated the death toll from Friday's violence from 31 to 43. About 500 people were wounded.

The fighting began after demonstrators marched on the headquarters of the Misrata brigades. Saddat al-Badri, the leader of Tripoli's local council, said the demonstration was peaceful but that the militiamen had "fired their weapons as soon as we arrived".

Witnesses said armed men had stormed the militia HQ hours after the protesters were shot at, with some buildings set on fire.

The militia was involved in clashes in the capital last week which left two people dead.

There have been increasing demands from civilians that the militias - which emerged during the 2011 revolution - disband or join the army, in line with an end-of-year deadline set by the interim government in Tripoli.

Last month, Zeidan was briefly seized by a militia group in Tripoli.

Two years after the overthrow of Col Muammar Gaddafi, Libya still has no constitution and divisions between secular and Islamist forces have paralysed parliament.