1 killed as rival militias clash in Libyan capital

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA/AFP) – A civilian was killed and another injured in clashes between rival militias in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Saturday.

Emergency services spokesman Osama Ali reported that Mustafa Baraka, a comedian, was killed in the clashes that erupted in several areas in the capital.

No information was yet available about casualties among militiamen.

“There are many families trapped in the areas where the clashes raged,” the spokesman said.

With combat continuing, “we are having difficulties moving around”, Osama said on Libya’s Al-Ahrar television.

Numerous images on social media purported to show cars burnt-out in the fighting and bullet-riddled buildings.

The violence came amid military build-ups by forces affiliated with the Tripoli-based Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh and troops loyal to Fathi Bashagha, who was appointed by the Tobruk-based Parliament as prime minister in March. Both figures claim power and authority in the capital.

Bashagha was appointed in February by a parliament elected in 2014 and based in the eastern city of Tobruk, but has since been unable to impose his authority in Tripoli.

Initially ruling out the use of force, the former minister has since hinted that he could resort to armed force.

Oil-rich Libya has remained in turmoil since 2011 when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted after four decades in power through an insurgency supported by the US.