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Clashes in southern Libya kill over 140

Source: Xinhua   2017-05-20 06:36:21            

TRIPOLI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Clashes in an airbase in southern Libya between the armed forces and a rival militia killed 141 people, a military spokesman revealed on Friday.

Army spokesman, Ahmad Al-Mimari, said in a press conference on Friday that the casualties include army solders and civilians.

The army on Friday launched air strikes on militant sites in southern Libya in retaliation, Al-Mismari revealed.

The eastern-based parliament strongly condemned the attack as a "cowardly terrorist attack by Al-Qaeda armed groups and militias allied with the so-called government of national accord on Brak Al-Shati air base, which killed and injured dozens."

The head of the UN support mission in Libya, Martin Kobler, also condemned the attack, saying "I am outraged by reports of significant numbers of fatalities, including civilians and by reports that summary executions may have taken place. Summary executions targeting civilians constitute a war crime, which may be prosecuted by the International Criminal court."

The clashes erupted when a militia loyal to the UN-backed government of national accord in Tripoli attacked Brak Al-Shati air base.

Southern Libya has recently witnessed escalating violence between the armed forces and militias allied with Tripoli's government.

UN-backed Prime Minister, Fayez Serraj, and army commander Major General Khalifa Haftar met earlier this month for the first time and agreed to calm the escalating situation in southern Libya.

However, the renewed violence would undermine any possible truce between the rival factions.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. The country is plagued with unrest and political division.

Editor: Mu Xuequan
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Clashes in southern Libya kill over 140

Source: Xinhua 2017-05-20 06:36:21

TRIPOLI, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Clashes in an airbase in southern Libya between the armed forces and a rival militia killed 141 people, a military spokesman revealed on Friday.

Army spokesman, Ahmad Al-Mimari, said in a press conference on Friday that the casualties include army solders and civilians.

The army on Friday launched air strikes on militant sites in southern Libya in retaliation, Al-Mismari revealed.

The eastern-based parliament strongly condemned the attack as a "cowardly terrorist attack by Al-Qaeda armed groups and militias allied with the so-called government of national accord on Brak Al-Shati air base, which killed and injured dozens."

The head of the UN support mission in Libya, Martin Kobler, also condemned the attack, saying "I am outraged by reports of significant numbers of fatalities, including civilians and by reports that summary executions may have taken place. Summary executions targeting civilians constitute a war crime, which may be prosecuted by the International Criminal court."

The clashes erupted when a militia loyal to the UN-backed government of national accord in Tripoli attacked Brak Al-Shati air base.

Southern Libya has recently witnessed escalating violence between the armed forces and militias allied with Tripoli's government.

UN-backed Prime Minister, Fayez Serraj, and army commander Major General Khalifa Haftar met earlier this month for the first time and agreed to calm the escalating situation in southern Libya.

However, the renewed violence would undermine any possible truce between the rival factions.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. The country is plagued with unrest and political division.

[Editor: huaxia]
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