Five killed as Libyan forces and Islamist fighters clash in Benghazi
Mon Dec 22, 2014 1:17pm GMT
By Ayman al-Warfalli
BENGHAZI, Libya Dec 22 (Reuters) - At least five people were killed and 35
wounded in clashes between Libyan pro-government forces and Islamist
fighters in Benghazi, medics and military officials said.
Army special forces and troops led by former general Khalifa Haftar have
been fighting to oust Islamist groups in the eastern coastal city since
October and have managed to retake the airport area and army camps that were
seized in August.
Islamist groups have managed to retain some control over the port and the
Lithi residential area.
The fighting is part of a wider struggle for control of the North African
country which sits on Africa's largest oil reserves. Former rebel groups
which helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in a 2011, NATO-backed uprising now
fight each other.
In August, Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni and his cabinet were forced out
of Tripoli when a group called Libya Dawn seized the capital and they now
operate from Bayda, east of Benghazi.
A new administration, not recognised internationally, has been set up in
Tripoli.
Fadhal al-Hassi, a senior officer in Haftar's forces, said that
pro-government forces moved into the Lithi district, where Islamist groups
including Ansar al-Sharia are still mostly in control, according to military
officials.
Medics at one Benghazi hospital told a Reuters reporter that at least five
bodies had been brought in since the morning and that more casualties were
expected as fighting still raging. About 500 people have been killed since
October, medics say.
Security and the political situation in Libya has been complicated by the
Benghazi fighting, where Haftar has merged his force with the army under a
mandate from the elected parliament, which is allied to Thinni.
Libya Dawn says Haftar is attacking residential areas with aircraft and
artillery, helped by Egypt. Both deny this.
Egypt's army toppled elected president Mohamed Mursi in 2013 and has cracked
down hard on his Muslim Brotherhood supporters. (Writing by Ulf Laessing;
Editing by Louise Ireland)
C Thomson Reuters 2014 All rights reserved
Received on Wed Dec 24 2014 - 10:35:27 EST