Libya Mulls Seeking Outside Help To End Deadly Clashes Near Airport
Rhona Arcaya | | Jul 15, 2014 10:18 AM EDT |
As rival militias and security forces battled in Libya, the government announced it was considering turning to the international community for help to restore order in the capital and the eastern city of Benghazi.
The Sydney Morning Herald said a statement from the Libyan government mentioned the possibility of using international troops to quell the violence, which has killed at least 15 people since Sunday.
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The clashes pit Islamist militias against supporters of rogue Libyan general Khalifa Haftar.
In Tripoli, rockets fired by rival forces have damaged the international airport, grounding all incoming and outgoing flights.
The latest attack on the airport left seven people, including a security guard, injured, according to the Sydney Morning Herald report.
Security officials at Tripoli airport said rockets hit the control center and a plane owned by Burag Airlines.
A spokesman for the Libyan government said almost all of the aircraft parked on the tarmac were severely damaged.
In Benghazi, medical and security source said missiles slammed into houses. Banks and government offices suspended operations.
News that Libya may seek international help to end the turmoil came a day after the United Nations announced the complete evacuation of its offices in Libya.
The UN said that because the airport was no longer operational, and the security situation continued to deteriorate, it can no longer continue its work.
An airport source said, "Libya is now practically cut off from the rest of the world" as three of its airports have ceased operations.
Tripoli and Misrata city airports were closed on Monday while Benghazi airport was shut down two months ago. The only way in and out of the country is by land through Tunisia, a situation reminiscent of the 1990s when UN sanctions isolated Libya. Two small airports are open in the east but with limited international flights.
Tunisia, Sudan, Niger, Chad, Egypt and Algeria agreed on Monday on ways to help their neighbor amid fears that the fighting could spread from Libya to other countries in the region.
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