By Saber Ayyub.
Tripoli, 22 October 2015:
There was growing tension this evening in the Tripoli suburb of Abu Sleem as rumours spread . . .[restrict]that Misratan fighters were planning military action there following the capture of a number of their colleagues. A group are said to have been seized by gunmen loyal to local military commander Abdul Ghani Kikli, more usually known as Ghnaiwa.
Ghnaiwa forces were put on alert during the day and in the early afternoon they went round telling shopkeepers to close. A neighbouring brigade was said be joining forces with Misrata’s Marsa Brigade against Ghnaiwa and vehicles belonging to the brigade were seen on the adjoining Airport Road.
Abu Sleem, next to Qaddafi’s now ruined Bab Al-Aziziya military compound, is still regarded as the capital’s main centre of Qaddafi-regime sympathisers. However, it and neighbouring areas are firmly under the control of Ghnaiwa, a firm but hardline supporter of Libya Dawn.
There has been rising animosity between his forces and those from Misrata recently. Just over a week ago, there were clashes in the neighbouring Al-Akwak district between Misratan fighters and an armed group from Kikla based in the area. [/restrict]
