Libya unrest continues with militia attack in Tripoli

Tripoli: A heavily armed militia roared into Libya’s capital, opening fire in the streets and causing people to run for their lives as they fought over the death of their commander. The militia attack comes as part of an unending wave of unrest washing over Libya, two years after the overthrow of dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Earlier in the day, militia fighters took control of a natural gas complex in western Libya, according to an employee there in an attempt to pressure the country’s interim parliament to give their ethnic group better representation on a panel writing a new constitution. [caption id=“attachment_1218059” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image of Libya unrest. AP[/caption] Dozens of militiamen, some riding in pickup trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns, came from the western city of Misrata to attack a rival militia in Tripoli, witnesses said. The clashes forced drivers to abandon their cars in the middle of the road and flee for their lives. The heavy gunfire rattled residents, who closed shops earlier and fled their apartments after bullets struck their buildings. The fighters belonged to al-Nassour militia group. They came to seek revenge for death of a militia commander Nouri Firyaoun earlier in the day, who had been wounded in clashes earlier this week in Tripoli between his group and the Souk al-Joumma, named after the neighbourhood in Tripoli where the fighting happened yesterday. Authorities in Tripoli could not be immediately reached for comment late yesterday, though such attacks have become a routine occurrence in the lawless country. Police and security forces remain scattered and disorganised, unable to stand up to the heavily armed militias now prowling the country. Early yesterday morning, about 50 Berber militiamen stormed the Melita Oil and Gas complex near Zwara, some 110 kilometres (70 miles) from Tripoli, an official at the complex said. They demanded the complex close and stop exporting gas to Italy, the official said. Employees at the plant negotiated with the rebels through the day, telling them any shutdown would take time, the official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief reporters. The complex is a joint venture between Libya’s National Oil Corp and Italian oil firm Eni SpA. An Eni spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. AP