Death toll exceeds 40 following week of Tripoli clashes

By Walid Abdullah

TRIPOLI, Libya

Armed confrontations continued on Monday between rival militias on the outskirts of Libyan capital Tripoli, bringing the death toll to at least 41 following a week of on-again, off-again clashes.

On August 26, violence erupted in southeastern Tripoli between militias aligned with the country’s UN-backed unity government.

The fighting broke out after the Seventh Infantry Brigade (affiliated with the Defense Ministry) accused the Tripoli Revolutionary Brigade (affiliated with the Interior Ministry) of attacking areas under its control.

According to the Tripoli-based Health Ministry, at least 41 people have been killed so far -- and scores more injured -- since the violence began one week ago.

Fayez al-Sarraj, prime minister of the Tripoli-based unity government, has reportedly directed Mohamed al-Zein, head of the government’s counter-terrorism agency, to oversee ceasefire talks between the two groups.

Libya has remained dogged by turmoil since 2011, when a bloody NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and death of longstanding leader Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades in power.

Since then, Libya’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power -- one in Tobruk and another in Tripoli -- and a host of heavily-armed militia groups.

By Walid Abdullah

TRIPOLI, Libya

Armed confrontations continued on Monday between rival militias on the outskirts of Libyan capital Tripoli, bringing the death toll to at least 41 following a week of on-again, off-again clashes.

On August 26, violence erupted in southeastern Tripoli between militias aligned with the country’s UN-backed unity government.

According to the Tripoli-based Health Ministry, at least 41 people have been killed so far -- and scores more injured -- since the violence began one week ago.

Libya has remained dogged by turmoil since 2011, when a bloody NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and death of longstanding leader Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades in power.

Since then, Libya’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power -- one in Tobruk and another in Tripoli -- and a host of heavily-armed militia groups.