Chaos continues in Libya as 21 killed in tribal clashes

By PressTV.com | Last updated: Oct 28, 2014 - 8:34:50 PM

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 Oct. 12 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 Oct. 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 US/NATO backed war that toppled the longtime ruler, Muammar Gadhafi. The war 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. (Press TV)

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