Seven Libyan soldiers killed in Benghazi bombs and clashes

Published October 2, 2014
— File photo by AFP
— File photo by AFP

BENGHAZI: Seven Libyan soldiers were killed and 50 wounded in a double suicide bombing and clashes in the eastern city of Benghazi on Thursday, an army commander said.

Libya is being racked by violence as the armed groups which helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 turn their guns on each other in a struggle to dominate politics and the country's vast oil resources.

In Benghazi, special army forces allied to brigades of former general Khalifa Haftar have been fighting Islamist brigades including Ansar al-Sharia, blamed by Washington for an attack on the US consulate in September 2012 in which the US ambassador was killed.

Two cars loaded with explosives drove into an army checkpoint near Benghazi's civilian and military airport, killing three soldiers, Wanis Bukhamada, commander of army special forces in Benghazi, told Reuters.

Four soldiers were killed in clashes with militants in the same area, he said.

“The Majlis al-Shoura forces suffered big losses,” Bukhamada said, referring to a group of militants which has been trying to take the airport for weeks.

The militants have already overrun army bases in the port city, making the airport one of the last large government bases.

The clashes were continuing at noon (1000 GMT), while air strikes could be heard. No more details were immediately available but Haftar's forces have used helicopters and war planes against the militants.

Western powers worry Libya will become a failed state as a weak central government cannot control the competing armed groups in a country awash with arms.

The elected parliament has relocated to the remote eastern city of Tobruk after effectively losing control of the capital Tripoli, where an alliance of armed groups rules after expelling a rival force.

The new forces controlling Tripoli, led by brigades from the western city of Misrata, have helped install an alternative parliament and prime minister.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.