By Tom Westcott.
Tripoli, 7 November 2013:
Clashes involving heavy weaponry continue in central Tripoli tonight. The Mahari Radisson Blu Hotel has been . . .[restrict]hit in the fighting and guests relocated to the basement.
According to British businessman Richard Galustian, who had dined there, the hotel was hit a number of times, as were other buildings in the vicinity. A member of staff at the hotel confirmed that the building had been damaged, but not hugely. He said there was a lot of broken glass in the lobby.
“There is still very heavy fighting in the area but it now seems to be moving away from the hotel in both easterly and westerly directions,” Galustian said. “Leaving the hotel, the fighting was very much in evidence in and around the Zawiyat Dahmani district of Tripoli, just minutes away from the hotel.”
A mix of weapons were being used, he said, including many heavy weapons. There were reports that members of the Libyan Armed Forces had been ambushed on the coastal road near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he added. This remains, as yet, unconfirmed.
At midnight, fighting had been ongoing for nearly three hours. [/restrict]
