8 killed as fighting breaks up in Libya’s Benghazi, medics sayJune 2, 2014 - 13:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Eight people were killed and 15 wounded when fighting broke out on Monday, June 2, between the Libyan army and Islamist militants in the eastern city of Benghazi, medical sources said, according to Reuters. Libya is in protracted turmoil three years after the NATO-backed war that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, with Islamist, anti-Islamist, regional and political factions locked in conflict. The Ansar al-Sharia militant group attacked a camp on Monday belonging to army special forces, residents there said. Forces of a renegade general fighting Islamists later joined the battle, using combat helicopters, they added. Among the eight dead were at least five soldiers, according to a hospital who asked not to be identified. Irregular forces loyal to former army general Khalifa Haftar - who wants to purge the North African state of Islamist militants he says the weak central government has failed to control - supported the army as fighting spread to other parts of Benghazi, his spokesman Mohamed al-Hejazi said. Helicopters took off from Benghazi's Benina air base, where regular military units have joined Haftar's campaign which began last month, residents said. The government, rival militia brigades and political factions have rejected Haftar's offensive against militants as an attempted coup, after his forces also stormed parliament a week ago. Ansar al-Sharia, listed as a terrorist group by Washington, warned the United States last week against interfering in Libya's crisis and accused Washington of backing Haftar. Gaddafi's one-man rule, followed by three years of unrest, have left Libya with few functioning institutions and no real national army to impose authority on the competing militias and brigades of former rebels who have become power-brokers. The acting Prime Minister, Abdullah Al-Thinni, refused on Wednesday to hand over power to a newly elected premier. The OPEC oil producer now has two prime ministers and a parliament deadlocked by splits between factions. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |