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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Fresh Clashes Rock Libyan Capital

Forces loyal to Interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah in Tripoli. AP file photo

Clashes between armed groups erupted in Libya's capital on Friday night, according to local media.

Heavy exchanges of gunfire and explosions ricocheted across several districts of Tripoli on Friday, according to an AFP journalist, while images broadcast by local press showed civilians fleeing heavily trafficked areas.

The intense fighting involved two influential groups from western Libya, local media reported.

No casualties or motive for the fighting were immediately apparent, but it is the latest violence to rock the country as two rival prime ministers vie for power.

After a 2011 revolt toppled Moammar Gadhafi, political infighting to fill the power vacuum has plagued Libya.

In February, Fathi Bashagha was appointed prime minister by the eastern-based parliament.

Interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah was appointed under a troubled UN-led peace process early last year to lead a transition to elections set for December 2021, but the vote was indefinitely postponed.

Dbeibah has insisted he will only relinquish power to an elected administration.

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