Militias in southwestern Libya agree to ceasefire after deadly clashes

[News_Editor]

Militias in southwestern Libya agree to ceasefire after deadly clashes

2012-03-30 10:28:52 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- Rival militias in southwestern Libya on Thursday agreed to a new ceasefire after a minor dispute over a car led to days of fighting, leaving more than 50 people killed, officials said. A ceasefire on Wednesday had been broken within hours.

Fighting between the Sabha and Tibu-dominated militias erupted on Sunday in the Libyan city of Sabha after a dispute over a car. The Sabha Medical Center said at least 50 people have been killed and 167 others have been injured in the fighting, which appeared to have stopped on Thursday.

The rival militias had initially agreed to a ceasefire on Wednesday, but relatives of some of the casualties were unhappy with the agreement and continued fighting a few hours later. A new ceasefire was agreed to on Thursday, and there were no immediate reports of clashes after the latest agreement.

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed the ceasefire and called on all sides to address the underlying causes of the violence. The mission also called on all parties to facilitate the treatment and evacuation of all wounded and to ensure the protection of civilians.

UN Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of UNSMIL, Ian Martin, said it is 'critical' that the Government and all sides take steps to ease the situation and address the underlying causes of the clashes between rival militias, which has been one of the challenges facing the country since the toppling of the regime of Muammar Gaddafi last year.

Last month, more than 100 people were killed when fierce clashes erupted between the Tabou and the Zwaya tribal brigades in the southern city of Kufra. The fighting continued for about two weeks before government forces were able to intervene and restore order.

Briefing the UN Security Council in January, Martin had reported that security remains a major concern, adding that events in different parts of the country have highlighted the risks associated with both the continued abundance of weapons on the streets, and the diverse armed 'brigades' operating in the country with unclear lines of command and control.

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