LIBYA: Heavy security in Tripoli after fighting between militias.

Record ID: 353722

  • Title: LIBYA: Heavy security in Tripoli after fighting between militias.
  • Date: 4th November 2012
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (NOVEMBER 4,2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CONVOYS OF ARMOURED VEHICLES OF THE LIBYAN ARMY SIGN ON A MILITARY TRUCK READING: ''THE GENERAL CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE LIBYAN ARMY'' SOLDIERS AROUND MILITARY TRUCKS SOLDIER OF THE LIBYAN ARMY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN ARMY OFFICER, IBRAHIM ELGATOUSSI, SAYING: "Our task is to clear the street of Zawiah and the (former
  • Embargoed: 19th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict,Weather,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4STHMJOSIVLD8IGIQ0SZ3Q342
  • Story Text: Troops patrol the capital Tripoli after rival Libyan militias fired guns and rocket-propelled grenades at each other and set fire to a former intelligence building.
    Libyan army troops in armoured vehicles patrolled the streets in Tripoli after rival militias fired guns and grenades at each other and set fire to a former intelligence building on Sunday (November 4).
    The violence was one of the worst breakdowns in security in the capital since Muammar Gaddafi's fall.
    At least five people were wounded and a stray bullet entered a hospital in the heart of the city, where residents rushed to arm themselves, saying calls to police had gone unheeded.
    After more than 12 hours, the army moved in to restore order.
    "Our task is to clear the street of Zawiah and the (former intelligence) building of the remnants of the previous regime who destroyed everything and terrorised the citizens Tripoli," said army official Ibrahim Elgatoussi.
    By early afternoon, a building belonging to the Supreme Security Committee (SSC), a body set up last year to try to regulate armed groups, was in flames and being looted by members of a rival militia faction, witnesses said. A sports shop that helps fund one of the militia groups was also looted.
    "There were many things stored in the building such as drinks, foodstuff, copies of Gaddafi's green book and machine guns," Elgatoussi said.
    The violence underscores the challenge faced by Libya's new government in reining in militias that gained power during the conflict that ended Gaddafi's 42-year rule a year ago.
    The fight erupted just after midnight after a dispute over the detention of a member of one of the armed groups, residents in the southern district of Sidi Khalifa said.
    Both militias are affiliated to the SSC, an umbrella group for various armed groups that refused to join the official police or army, saying they were still run by Gaddafi loyalists.
    Civilians blocked the street where the fighting raged to prevent cars entering the battleground where the sound of gunfire rang out. Many civilians went home to get their own arms.
    Some fighters said the clash was over the detention of the militia member while others said the SSC headquarters - a former intelligence building - had been occupied by a militia called Support Unit No. 8 led by Mohamed al-Warfali.
    A group of rival militias - also belonging to the SCC - fired at the building from a former post office.
    A force of about 200 soldiers from Libya's national army eventually moved into the SSC building occupied by Warfali's militia and succeeded in taking over control.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register