By Libya Herald reporters.
Tripoli, 19 March 2016:
Heavy clashes broke out early this morning in central Tripoli. These were intially reported as . . .[restrict]being between militias supporting the unity government of prime minister-designate Faeiz Serraj and those opposed, the latter being the Samoud Front (which is led by Salah Badi) and gunmen loyal to Abu Sleem-based Abdul Ghani Al-Kikli (“Ghneiwa”).
The fighting, which started around dawn but which has now calmed down, was in Jamhouria and Aziziya streets as well as in Mansoura district. Residents near the Central Hospital in Aziziya Street said they were “surrounded” by gunmen.
It is now reported, however, that the clashes were between the Samoud Front, based in Camp 77 at Bab Al-Aziziya, and the brigade known as Furqa Al-Sadisa (Sixth Division), based in Zawiat Al-Dahmani. According to locals in Mansoura, they were the result of the death last night of a member of Furqa Al-Sadisa in the district, allegedly killed by Samoud.
Furqa Al-Sadisa, which controls the Ministry of Transport building in Zawiat Al-Dahmani, is linked to Rada, the “Deterrence” force led by Abdul Rauf Kara. Based at Mitiga Airport, Rada is said to support Serraj and to be preparing to defend him. However, it has denied on its Facebook page being involved in today’s clashes. Those who were involved, it said cryptically, were doing so on their own behalf.
No one is known to have been injured or killed in the clashes although a number of vehicles was set on fire in Jumhouriya Street and in Mansoura.
Serraj said in a TV interview two days ago that he and the Presidency Council would be heading to Tripoli within days and that security arrangements were taking place on the ground for that to happen. The Council was ordered to go to the capital last week by members of the Libya Dialogue.
Yesterday, the Libyan Revolutionaries Operations Room said they would take action to prevent Serraj returning. [/restrict]
