By Ajnadin Mustafa.
Tripoli, 27 July 2015:
Heavy clashes in the west Tripoli suburb of Siyahiya today between members of the Mobile Forces, based . . .[restrict]in Janzour, and of the Islamist-leaning Abu Obeida militia from Zawia are reported to have resulted in two fighters being killed and six wounded.
Both groups continue to be members of the otherwise fracturing Libya Dawn alliance.
The fighting appears to have been triggered by an argument between the two at a checkpoint on the roundabout at the end of the Tripoli highway, to the east of Janzour. It is manned by the Mobile Forces. The argument soon degerated into fighting which then spread as far as the Regatta club, until last year controlled by Zintani forces but now in the hands of the Zawians. Roads were closed and local residents rushed to their homes as both sides started using anti-aircraft fire and RPGs against each other.
The wounded were taken to different hospitals in the capital, including Abu Sleem Hospital, but a breakdown of the casualty figures – who was wounded and from which side – has not yet been given.
Meanwhile, in a further sign of the splits within Libya Dawn, Zawia municipal council has accused Misrata and some of its brigades of responsibility for the deteriorating security situation on the coastal road west of the capital. In a statement on Saturday, it said that they had allowed Warshefani and Zintani forces, which it described as being pro-Qaddafi, to take over sections of the road. As a result, it claimed, there had been a rise of criminal attacks on vehicles.
It specifically accused Misrata’s Halbous brigade of agreeing a ceasefire with the Warshefana and Zintan and pulling out forces without consulting with its Libyan Dawn allies.
Fighting in Siyahiya was said this evening to have died down. [/restrict]
