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No rest for Libya: Over 130 killed in tribal clashes
Published: 22 February, 2012, 03:14
Libyan men punch the air during an organised pro-government rally in the town of Kufra, 2000 kilometres from the capital Tripoli. (AFP Photo / Mahmud Turkia)
More than 130 people have been killed in fighting between two tribes in Libya’s remote south-eastern area. This comes as NTC forces struggle to secure full control over Libya following the fall of the Gaddafi regime.
Some 113 people from the Toubu tribe and 23 from the Zwai tribe have been killed in the remote town of Kufra in the Sahara Desert, tribal sources told Agence-France-Presse on Tuesday.
The ruling NTC has so far not intervened. "We tried calling the NTC but they have not responded," the chief of the Toubu tribe told AFP.
"We have been under siege for a week. Since the start of the clashes, 113 people from our side have been killed, including six children," said Issa Abdelmajid, chief of the Toubu tribe, which fought Muammar Gaddafi’s forces during last year’s uprising. He added that 241 members of his tribe had been injured.
A spokesperson for the Zwai tribe confirmed 23 deaths and said that 53 people from their side had been wounded. Yunus Zwai added that the opposing tribe has the support of outside forces.
“People from the Toubu tribe are being helped by foreign elements from Chad and Sudan. We have arrested several Chadian and Sudanese fighters,” Yunus Zwai, spokesman for Kufra local council, told AFP.
The clashes are undermining the NTC’s efforts to maintain the country’s unity after the removal of the regime of Colonel Gaddafi. In January, forces opposed to the NTC managed to retake the former Gaddafi stronghold of Bani Walid.
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Truth (unregistered) wrote in#6
This is only the beginning of big tribal war and civil war. We are afraid this could turn into another Rwanda soon. Where is NATO and their beloved Puppets NTC and Al-Qaida. Did NATO Invade Libya to bring what is happening now.
They probably did, a divided Libya is a weaker Libya and therefore much easier to manipulate and control through proxies, just look at Iraq. The West's only concerns are their own interests, if the people of Libya burn, then so be it-- as long as there is not too much adverse media coverage that might make the general public question their government policies towards Libya. Those Libyan who took up arms against their leader have ultimately sold their country to the capitalist dogs.
'Did NATO Invade Libya to bring what is happening now.
They probably did...'
christ, if only nato was as powerful and prescient as its detractors seem to believe. actually nato members just spent billions handing the country to islamists. great, much better than gaddafi. same thing with afghanistan, our army in iraq... bringing democracy to people who don't want it, if they were capable of it anyway.