Tripoli began a three-day strike Sunday to mourn dozens killed in clashes at an anti-militia protest over the weekend, the deadliest violence in the Libyan capital since the 2011 uprising. The weak central government has struggled to rein in former rebel brigades who helped end Muammar Gaddafis 40-year dictatorship but have since grown into increasingly menacing militias. Demonstrators protesting against the militias on Friday were fired upon from a base belonging to battle-hardened fighters from the western city of Misrata, who killed several protesters before rival militias swept in, with gunfire and explosions echoing across the city. The fighting raged overnight and into Saturday, as the Misrata base changed hands and reinforcements rushed into the city, before other former rebel brigades under the nominal control of the government secured the area and the Misrata fighters stood down. At least 43 people were killed and another 450 were wounded in the fighting, the health ministry said.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 01:46:28 +0000
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