Libya declares state of emergency in Tripoli

BY Libyan Express Sep 02, 2018 - 20:22

A state of emergency has been declared in Tripoli by Libya’s UN-backed Presidential Council as fighting among rival factions intensifies around the capital.

According to the Health Ministry in Tripoli, fighting has caused 39 deaths and 96 injuries in the past few days.

The Presidential Council in a statement Sunday urged rival militias to stop the fighting and abide a UN-brokered ceasefire.

The United States, France, Italy and Britain on Saturday condemned the escalation of violence in and around Tripoli, warning that armed groups which undermined Libyan stability would be made accountable.

“These attempts to weaken the legitimate Libyan authorities and hinder the ongoing political process are not acceptable,” Washington, Paris, Rome and London said in a joint statement published by the French foreign ministry.

“We are calling on the armed groups to immediately stop all military action and warn those who seek to undermine stability, in Tripoli or elsewhere in Libya, that they will be made accountable for it,” the statement said.

The authorities closed Tripoli-based Mitiga airport on Friday after some rockets were fired in its direction.

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