Heavy fighting erupts near Libyan capital airportJuly 14, 2014 - 12:58 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Heavy fighting between militias with anti-aircraft guns and rocket-propelled grenades has broken out near the airport of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, the Guardian reports. Islamist militias attacked the rival Zintan group, which controls Libya's international airport in Tripoli, triggering fierce clashes that halted flights, officials said. The exchanges with heavy weapons, which rival armed groups retain from the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled the longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, were heard in the city centre, 15 miles (25km) away. British Airlines and Turkish Airways cancelled their flights, while thick smoke could be seen near the airport, residents said. An airport official said rockets had struck inside the airport perimeter at about 6am local time, interrupting flights. "Clashes followed between the Zintan militia who control the airport and rivals who want to drive them out," the official added. The former rebel militia from Zintan, a hill town south-west of the capital, is the main supporter of liberals in parliament who are trying to resist attempts by powerful Islamists hoping to gain power in the vacuum left after Gaddafi was ousted. The attack was claimed by the Operations Cell of Libyan Revolutionaries, a coalition of Islamist militias considered the armed wing of Islamists in parliament. "The revolutionary forces arrive within the perimeter of Tripoli airport and clash with armed groups inside," it said on its Facebook page. The fighting comes weeks after a general election. Libya has been plagued by growing lawlessness while on the political front rival cabinets are jostling for power. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |