TRIPOLI, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Clashes renewed on Monday in the western city of Sabratha in Libya, killing a security officer and injuring several others, according to a security source.
"The anti-IS operation chamber responded to the Libya Red Crescent's request for cease-fire for three hours, starting from 10 pm, in order to evacuate families trapped in areas of clashes," the source told Xinhua.
"The evacuation stopped after two hours due to renewed clashes between members of the anti-IS operation chamber and members of the military council of the city, which killed a security officer of the chamber and injured several others," the source added.
Sabratha's Red Crescent Society on Sunday announced plans on social media to evacuate families trapped the areas of clashes.
The city of Sabratha, located some 70 km west of the capital Tripoli, has been witnessing violent clashes between rival security groups since Sunday dawn. Security and medical sources said that five people were killed and eight others were injured on Sunday.
The main road linking Sabratha and Tripoli has been blocked, which forced people to take alternate routes. No official government statement has yet been issued regarding the clashes.
The clashes broke out after a member of the city's military council was killed by the rival anti-IS operation chamber.
Sabratha's anti-IS operation chamber was formed in 2016, and is allied with the Tripoli-based UN-backed government of national accord.
The military council opposes the chamber and accuses its members of being loyal to the rival eastern-based General Haftar's army.
Libya remains politically divided despite signing a UN-sponsored peace deal and appointment of a unity government. Since the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime, the north African country is plagued with escalating violence and unrest.
