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Clashes near Libya's Tripoli kill 5

Xinhua, March 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Five militants were killed on Monday in an armed clashes between pro-government forces and the Islamist armed group Libya Dawn, according to security sources.

The heavy fighting erupted in Bir al-Ghanam area some 120 kilometers southwest of the capital Tripoli, an officer for Libya Dawn told Xinhua in an telephone interview.

He added the battle has been going on for two weeks and Libya Dawn is set to launch a massive operation to wipe out the enemies.

The pro-government forces, mainly consisted of Zintan militias and tribal forces, have been trying to regain control of the capital since early March. They claimed earlier this month that they have taken the outskirts towns near Tripoli, like Sabratha, El-Ajelat, and Zawiya.

Libya has been witnessing frayed political process since the 2011 turmoil, which toppled its former leader Muammar Gaddafi, and it is now juggling two rival parliaments, the secular House of Representatives and the Islamist-backed General National Congress.

The armed forces loyal to the two sides have been engaged in intense battles since last May, leaving at least 1,000 people killed and more than 100,000 displaced. Endit