Benghazi, Libya, June 5, 2012 (AFP)
Benghazi, Libya, June 5, 2012 (AFP)
Armed clashes broke out late Monday between military police and a militia group in this eastern Libyan city after a youth was killed at a checkpoint, a security source said.
Fighting was continuing around midnight (2200 GMT) near the military police headquarters after a young militia member was shot dead at a police checkpoint to the west of the town.
Clashes commenced around the Al-Gawersha checkpoint before militiamen attacked the military police HQ in the Abuhdima district. Shooting continued and ambulance sirens could be heard but there were no immediate reports of other casualties.
Earlier Monday, a militia of Libyan ex-rebels seized the runway of Tripoli’s international airport, surrounding planes and grounding all flights after their leader’s apparent arrest, officials said.
It took until evening for the authorities to regain control of the airport when loyalist forces stormed it after negotiations with the militiamen broke down, deputy interior minister Omar al-Khadrawi told journalists.
The ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) is still struggling to fully integrate many Libyans who fought forces loyal to longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi before he was ousted and killed in October last year.
The former rebel fighters have remained in organised armed brigades. The ministries of defence and interior have integrated many of them into their ranks but some are still a law unto themselves.
