TRIPOLI: A fierce gunfight between two tribes in Libya's remote southeastern desert has killed at least 17 people in the past two days and wounded another 22, tribal sources said on Monday.

Clashes between the tribes of Zwai and Tobu in the town of Kufra have killed 17 people since Sunday, including nine from the Zwai tribe and eight from the Tobu clan, sources from both the tribes said.

A source from the Tobu tribe said “shelling from the Zwai side was intense with heavy weapons.”

He said that members of his tribe turned to the National Transitional Council for help but that Libya's ruling body “did not respond and did not answer our calls.” Earlier on Monday, NTC spokesman Mohammed al-Harizi confirmed that there were clashes between two groups on Sunday.

“It was a problem between two tribes and they are working to find a peaceful solution,” he said, without naming the tribes.

Both groups were using light arms when the fighting initially erupted on Sunday, but the violence then intensified, with the two sides firing rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft guns, sources said.

A militant from Tobu tribe said those fighting him and his comrades since Sunday were Zwai tribesmen supported by the NTC. —AFP