LIBYA: A man is rushed to hospital for treatment after fighting broke out between rival militias across the Libyan capital, killing at least one person and wounding 12 others

Record ID: 858234

  • Title: LIBYA: A man is rushed to hospital for treatment after fighting broke out between rival militias across the Libyan capital, killing at least one person and wounding 12 others
  • Date: 8th November 2013
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (NOVEMBER 7, 2013) (REUTERS) WIDE OF HOSPITAL IN LIBYAN CAPITAL TRIPOLI CLOSE OF SING ON HOSPITAL READING IN ARABIC: TRIPOLI CENTRAL HOSPITAL WOUNDED MAN ON STRETCHER IN HOSPITAL CORRIDOR CLOSE OF WOUNDED MAN PEOPLE WALKING ALONG HOSPITAL CORRIDOR / MAN WITH BANDAGED ARM LIBYAN FLAGS DOCTOR EMAD KHALIFA ALSADI WALKING ALONG WITH SECURITY MEMBERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DOCTOR AT TRIPOLI CENTRAL HOSPITAL, EMAD KHALIFA ALSADI, SAYING: "Today about 12 people were wounded, they had fallen between the area of Fashloum and the coast way and one person was killed. Some of the wounded are in the hospital receiving treatment and some have left and as I told you one person was killed." SECURITY MEMBERS IN HOSPITAL CORRIDOR CLOSE OF SECURITY
  • Embargoed: 23rd November 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • City:
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVACCMPXIOYZ6MOI6KFXDSYDTC2B
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Rival militiamen battled each other for hours with anti-aircraft guns and grenades across Tripoli on Thursday (November 7), killing at least one person and wounding 12 in the worst fighting for months in the Libyan capital, medical sources said.

    "Today about 12 people were wounded, they had fallen between the area of Fashloum and the coast way and one person was killed. Some of the wounded are in the hospital receiving treatment and some have left and as I told you one person was killed," said Dr. Emad Khalifa Alsadi at the Tripoli Central Hospital, where some of the wounded were being treated.
    The second outbreak of street fighting within days shows how the government is struggling to contain militias which helped overthrow Muammar Gaddafi two years ago but kept their guns after the NATO-backed uprising.
    A security source told Reuters that a heavily-armed group from the central city of Misrata had entered the capital in the evening to take revenge for the killing of one of its fighters in a smaller shootout in Tripoli on Tuesday (November 5).
    Gunfire broke out while young people were enjoying a water pipe on the seafront and families were shopping or dining at the start of the weekend.
    Toyota trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns arrived in several parts of Tripoli, opening fire as they tried to storm the eastern Suq al-Juma district, witnesses said. Panicked diners ran for cover, while drivers abandoned their cars.
    One woman was shot in the leg, a medical worker said. The Radisson Blu, one of Tripoli's best hotels, evacuated some guests after windows in the reception area were smashed by stray gunfire, an employee said.
    Libya's government is finding it harder to contain former fighters and Islamist militants in a country awash with weapons.
    Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has sought to co-opt militia that helped topple Gaddafi by integrating them and their weapons from the NATO-backed revolt into the nascent army and police. But in practice, most continue to report to their own commanders or tribes.
    Strikes and armed protests by militia and tribal gunmen demanding payments or political rights have also shut much of the OPEC member's oil output for months and deprived the government of its key source of income.
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