By Libya Herald reporters.
Tripoli, 24 August 2014:
It is being claimed that Zintani forces withdrew from Tripoli International airport and other bases . . .[restrict]that they held in Tripoli on specific orders from the House of Representatives meeting in Tobruk.
A source close to the Zintanis told the Libya Herald that their forces had evacuated all positions in the capital at dawn yesterday, talking their weapons and ammunition with them. They are now holding at Ras El-Lifa and, said the source, would be ready to return to Tripoli if ordered.
The positions from which they withdrew included their Dar Islamia and Nakhlia bases.
The source insisted that there had been no fighting yesterday morning and that the Zintanis had sustained no casualties during the retreat. This contradicts reports from the Red Crescent that there had been heavy fighting around the airport and many casualties.
Warshefana forces have meanwhile said that they have withdrawn from Janzour at the request of the Thinni government. A senior individual told this newspaper “Thinni asked us not to fight but to pull back to our bases”.
It has not yet been possible to contact the House of Representatives nor the government for comment.
Meanwhile Dawn militias are encouraging people who have fled the fighting, not simply from Gasr Ben Gashir close to the airport, but from the much-contested districts all along the airport road, to return to their homes. [/restrict]
