Africa News
Calm in Tripoli after fighting kills three people
Dec 11, 2011, 8:53 GMT
Cairo - Calm returned to Tripoli on Sunday after clashes between the interim government's military and armed fighters near the airport left three people dead, media reported.
Fighters from the Zintan area were scheduled to hand over the airport and several government buildings to the ruling National Transitional Council.
However, fighting began when the government's army demanded an immediate handover and rejected the fighters' suggestion that they should document the process for media purposes, the local Quryna news website reported.
Regional broadcaster Al Arabiya reported on its website that three people were killed in the clashes, which took place while the country's first national reconciliation conference was being held in the capital.
During the conference, Libya's interim government called for a national dialogue between all groups in the country, after more than eight months of conflict between the opposition and then-leader Moamer Gaddafi divided troops and tribes.
Disarming militant ex-fighters is one of the greatest challenges facing the interim government as it builds new security forces and tries to promote national reconciliation after months of bloody conflict.
Parliamentary elections are planned for June, after which the new parliament is to be tasked with drafting a constitution.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Africa
- 1. Several dead in car bombing in northern Nigeria
- 2. Mogadishu blast kills seven, including sports chiefs
- 3. Seven dead in Mogadishu suicide bomb attack
- 4. ANC suspends Youth League leader with immediate effect
- 5. Police arrest Uganda's opposition leader and others at protest march
Older Talkback
