UN voices concern over clashes in Tripoli

The UN mission to Libya expressed concern on Saturday over clashes in Tripoli, after a night of heavy fire between militants in the capital.

The latest fighting comes as Libya is once again divided between competing governments — one of which is based in Tripoli — despite more than a year of tentative steps towards unification.

In a statement, the mission said the clashes endangered civilians and called on Libyans “to do everything possible to preserve the country’s fragile stability at this sensitive time”.

The cause of the violence in the seaside neighbourhood was unclear, but videos circulated on social media showed families with children sheltering and fleeing as artillery fire flew across the night sky. Some accused two of Tripoli’s powerful militias of infighting.

Dbeibah has refused to step down since then, raising questions over his mandate.