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Militias clash in Libya's capital

Xinhua, March 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Tripoli has been witnessing heavy clashes between armed militias since Friday evening that lasted until Saturday morning.

Witnesses said the clashes took place in downtown Tripoli where heavy bombing could be heard. No official source was available for comment about the clashes. Also, no information was available about possible casualties.

The Libyan capital Tripoli is controlled by Libya Dawn militias, a coalition of armed groups that took over Tripoli in 2014 and revived the expired General National Congress (parliament), creating political division in the country.

The clashes took place a few days following the announcement of the UN-backed unity government that it would be in Tripoli in a few days.

The unity government faced opposition from both competing political powers. The internationally recognized government issued a statement on Friday warning the international community against "imposing the unity government". Tripoli's self-proclaimed government also rejected the new government, saying the move to Tripoli would be "illegal."

Libya suffers a state of insecurity and political division with two major political powers, one in the east and the other in the west.

The country is plagued with insecurity and chaos, with increased dominance of armed militias that operate independently from central authorities. Endit