Tripoli airport clashes kill 9

TRIPOLI: Fighting at the Libyan capital’s only working international airport killed nine people yesterday, officials said, after militiamen attacked it in an attempt to free colleagues held at a jail there, reports AFP.

Although Mitiga airport was evacuated when the clashes erupted, it was not yet known whether the casualties were all fighters or included civilians.

“Initial toll following the fighting on the perimeter of Mitiga airport: 5 dead at Mitiga hospital and 4 dead at the cardiac surgery hospital in Tajura”, the national unity government’s health ministry said on Facebook.

It said it would give the number of wounded in a later statement.

Mitiga, a former airbase in eastern Tripoli, has been a civilian airport since the city’s main international airport was badly damaged in fighting between rival militias in mid-2014.

The North African country has been wracked by chaos since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival authorities and militias battling for control of its oil riches.

 

Tripoli airport clashes kill 9

TRIPOLI: Fighting at the Libyan capitals only working international airport killed nine people yesterday, officials said, after militiamen attacked it in an attempt to free colleagues held at a jail there, reports AFP. Although Mitiga airport was evacuated when the clashes erupted, it was not yet known whether the casualties were all fighters or included civilians. Initial toll following the fighting on the perimeter of Mitiga airport: 5 dead at Mitiga hospital and 4 dead at the cardiac surgery hospital in Tajura, the national unity governments health ministry said on Facebook. It said it would give the number of wounded in a later statement. Mitiga, a former airbase in eastern Tripoli, has been a civilian airport since the citys main international airport was badly damaged in fighting between rival militias in mid-2014. The North African country has been wracked by chaos since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival authorities and militias battling for control of its oil riches.