Libya wave of violence claims 88
Anti-government protesters throw stones at riot police during clashes in Kiev on January 25, 2014. Two weeks of ethnic clashes in Libya’s main southern city Sebha have killed at least 88 people and wounded more than 130, the city’s hospital director said on January 25, 2014. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
- The fighting erupted between members of the Toubou minority, a non-Arab ethnic group, and armed Arab tribesmen of the Awled Sleiman
TRIPOLI
Two weeks of ethnic clashes in Libya’s main southern city Sebha have killed at least 88 people and wounded more than 130, the city’s hospital director said on Saturday.
“Between the outbreak of the fighting on January 11 and Friday evening, the number of dead totalled 88,” Mr Abdallah Ouheida told AFP.
He said the full death toll was almost certainly higher as casualties had also been taken to other hospitals in the region.
He said there had been sporadic clashes on Saturday but no immediate new casualties.
The fighting erupted between members of the Toubou minority, a non-Arab ethnic group, and armed Arab tribesmen of the Awled Sleiman.
There has since between fighting between the Awled Sleiman and other Arab tribes that is reported to have involved supporters of slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Gaddafi loyalists have taken advantage of the chaos to launch repeated attacks on the city’s Tamenhant air base, municipal council chief Ayoub Al-Zarrouk said.
Meanwhile kidnappers on Saturday seized Egypt’s cultural attaché and three other embassy staff in Tripoli, a day after another of its diplomats was abducted.
“The cultural attache and three other staff were kidnapped in Tripoli,” ministry spokesman Said Lassoued told AFP.
