Thursday, June 27, 2013

Two Killed in Rebel Shoot-out in Libyan Capital

Two Killed in Rebel Shoot-out in Libyan Capital

TRIPOLI, Libya— Libyan security officials say armed militiamen have killed two rebel soldiers, including a senior officer, in clashes in the capital, Tripoli. Two other soldiers were wounded.

The officials say the clashes erupted early Wednesday in the central Yarmouk military base when militiamen stormed the site in an apparent revenge attack for a crackdown by the rebel army on militias in Tripoli.

Militias, mostly made up of former rebels who fought in Libya's 2011 civil war that served as puppet foot forces in the U.S.-NATO war that toppled former revolutionary leader Moammar Gadhafi, have grown in size and power in the last two years. The neo-colonial government has failed to bring them under state control.

Clashes between rival militias and with the Libyan rebel military are frequent.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

No comments: