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Fierce fighting has erupted near the Libyan capital’s internatonal airport, as the armed group that controls it came under attack, airport officials said.
All flights were suspended yesterday as rockets struck inside the airport perimeter during clashes followed between the Zintan militia who control the airport and rivals who want to drive them out.At least three people were killed and 11 others wounded in the fighting, medics said.
Local TV footage suggested that the attacking rebels were from the western city of Misrata, the Reuters news agency reported.
Libya has been in turmoil since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with the government unable to control militias who helped to remove Gaddafi but continue to defy state authority.
Zintan forces have controlled the airport since the Gaddafi’s ousting, but rebels from both Zintanis and Misrata had been placed on the state pay roll in an unsuccessful attempt by the government to win their cooperation and integrate both factions into state forces.
Local news channel al-Nabaa showed footage of military vehicles carrying Misrata signs opening fire yesterday.
Heavy smoke could be seen above the airport, the main gateway into the North African oil-producing nation. “All domestic and international flights have been halted,” an airport official said. Footage showed a Libyan Airlines plane and a transport aircraft engulfed in smoke while vehicles fired anti-aircraft volleys.
The fighting came just hours after the US warned that conflict in Libya could be “widespread” following an acknowledgement by electoral officials that fraud had clouded a June 25 vote for a new parliament.
“The United States is deeply concerned by the ongoing violence in Libya and dangerous posturing that could lead to widespread conflict there,” said Jen Psaki, of the US state department.
“We affirm our support for Libya’s democratic transition and urge the seating of the new Council of Representatives as soon as possible,” she added.
On Thursday, the UN Support Mission in Libya announced it was pulling out dozens of staff because of security concerns. — AFP
derick.khumalo