By Ahmed Elumami.
The unexplained withdrawal of Libya Shield peacekeepers appears, last night, to have brought about a restart . . .[restrict]of fighting between Zawia and Warshefana.
Reports suggest that the rupture of the week-long truce that had been brokered by elders on both sides, has not produced a repeat of the deadly consequences of the previous fighting, when at least six people were killed and dozens injured. As of this evening, despite bouts of heavy firing, there have been no reports of casualties.
“The reason behind the renewed clashes,” Zawia local council head Mohamed Khadrawi told the Libya Herald , “ was the sudden withdrawal of the Libya Shield Force, which is responsible for a cease-fire between the two sides”.
However, Khadrawi said that because both sides were “just shooting heavy weapons in the air for intimidation”, there had been no damage. They had later withdrawn from contact.
He added that there had been “several desperate attempts” by the government and the Congress to end the entire confrontation, so far without result.
A source from Defence Ministry speaking to the Libya Herald on condition of anonymity, said that for “security reasons” it was “quite difficult” to say why the Libya Shield Forces had been withdrawn.
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