Two killed, 29 injured in Libyan clashes

Tripoli – At least two people were killed and 29 injured as deadly clashes erupted here Friday night between local militia and a brigade from Misrata city, a security official said.

The clashes broke out in the eastern area of Suq al-Juma in capital Tripoli following unconfirmed reports that Nuri Friwan, commander of Misrata Nosoor Battalion, died at hospital after being wounded during a shootout at a Tripoli checkpoint Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

There were negotiations between the elders from the cities of Misrata, Suq al-Juma and Tajoura, which aimed to put an end to the fighting, a media report said.

The Misrata Military Council closed the Dafniya checkpoint to prevent any armed force from heading to Tripoli, it added.

The clashes spread across the eastern part of Tripoli. In the areas of Fashloom and Zawiyat Dahamani, the two sides shot with anti-aircraft artilleries.

Two years after the 2011 revolution, the security is drastically deteriorating in the North African country, especially following the flash abduction of Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan in early October.

On Tuesday, NATO announced that an advisory team will soon be set up in Libya to assist the war-torn country to address its security issues.