Washington condemned the clashes that took place in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, between two armed groups on Friday night.
The US ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, said that the clashes should not continue or escalate, stressing that those responsible will pay the price from the Libyan people as well as the international community.
The US Embassy in Libya quoted Norland’s statements in a tweet on its Twitter page.
On Saturday, the Libyans woke up in shock, following violent clashes between two armed groups that took place at night in Tripoli, in an indication of the continuation of the chronic chaos in this country.
Ambassador Norland: “Such clashes should not continue or escalate – those responsible for these clashes will pay the price from the Libyan people as well as the international community.” https://t.co/XiOVHtsXjF
— U.S. Embassy – Libya (@USEmbassyLibya) June 11, 2022
The Libyan Prime Minister-designate from the House of Representatives, Fathi Bashagha, said that the protection of civilians and innocent defenseless citizens can only be achieved through security arrangements under the supervision of the United Nations mission to clear the capital of all types of heavy and medium weapons.
In his tweets regarding the armed clashes that took place in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Friday, Bashagha added that it is not possible to trust an outlaw impersonating gang to guarantee the holding of elections while it lacks control over the security and safety of citizens.
1/4 The protection of civilians and innocent defenseless citizens can only be achieved through security arrangements under the supervision of the UN mission to clear the capital of all types of heavy and medium weapons.
— Fathi Bashagha (@fathi_bashagha) June 11, 2022
For her part, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, said, “Enough is enough!” Calling for complete calm and the protection of civilians everywhere in Libya and at all times.
“Enough is enough,” Williams wrote, in a tweet on Twitter. “I demand absolute calm and the protection of civilians.”
fed up!
Enough means enough!
I call for complete calm and protection of civilians everywhere in Libya at all times. https://t.co/is0QGzMH2U— Stephanie Turco Williams (@SASGonLibya) June 11, 2022
These clashes resulted in the death of one of the militants, and heavy material losses, a source in the Libyan Interior Ministry told AFP.
Explosions were heard and gunfire exchanged, especially with heavy machine guns, near the Tuesday market, which includes a large public park.
“I saw from the balcony of my house on the third floor that heavy weapons were being fired,” said Reda Saeed, a Libyan national who resides in the neighborhood.
He added in an interview with the French agency, “The shots were clear in the dark of the night and it was clear that they were fired randomly at residential areas in which many buildings,” explaining that they were “very violent clashes (…) perhaps the most violent in our region since the revolution in 2011” that toppled Muammar Gaddafi.
Pictures published by local media show terrified civilians fleeing parks, including young children and mothers with their carts.
A small group took refuge in a cafe while the screams of women might be heard in a video clip.
???? Militia clashes #tripoli #Libya pic.twitter.com/R0ljviX6I1
— Ibn Libya Al-Sartawi ???????????????????????? (@MstrMax11) June 10, 2022
These confrontations come three weeks following a failed attempt by Fathi Bashagha, with the support of Parliament and the strongman of the East, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, to seize power in Tripoli, the seat of the interim government led by Dabaiba.
