Two fighters are killed when Libyan militias fought a gun battle across one of Tripoli's busiest streets Tuesday. It was a fresh sign that the new government is struggling to assert control in the post-Gaddafi era.
Tripoli-based former rebels fought an hour-long gun battle with at least 24 fighters from Misrata who had come to free a group of prisoners.
More than two months after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was captured and killed, real power still resides with the militias that ousted him. Tripoli's city council had set a deadline of December 20 for militias to return to their homes.
The Chairman of the Military Council of Tripoli addressed a news conference.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHAIRMAN OF MILITARY COUNCIL OF TRIPOLI, ABDULHAKIM BELHADJ, SAYING:
"This incident occurred because of a dispute between some Misrata fighters and fighters of the local military council of al-Zawiyah street and Seedi khalifa. Unfortunately this dispute led to the killing of four people. The area was entered and is under control. The people responsible for this were arrested and will face justice."
The Misrata rebels in particular hold a vast arsenal of tanks, rockets and guns that are testing the ability of the government to assert its authority.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
