Tribal clashes in Libya kill 21

Published October 12th, 2014 - 06:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

At least 21 people have been killed and many others wounded after tribal clashes broke out in the western region of Libya's capital city, Tripoli.

The clashes erupted on Sunday between militias from Zintan and Kekla towns.

The clashes began when militiamen from the Zintan, located southwest of the capital, attacked the town of Kekla, which supports their rival Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) armed group.

According to local hospital sources, more than 60 people were also wounded in the clashes.

The deadly clashes come a day after United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made a surprise visit to the North African nation, calling for an end to the violence in the country.

On October 10, the United Nations Refugee Agency said tribal fighting over the past three weeks has displaced nearly 100,000 Libyans, adding that 287,000 people were currently displaced throughout the country.

Libya plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled the longtime ruler, Muammar Gaddafi. The ouster of Gaddafi gave rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militants and deep political divisions.

The country has been witnessing numerous clashes between government forces and rival militia groups that refuse to lay down arms. The groups are now turning their guns on each other in an attempt to dominate politics and the country’s vast oil resources.

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