Libyan Prime Minister cancels visit to Sudan due to Tripoli fighting
The Prime Minister of Libya’s Government of National Accord Fayez Al-Serraj has cancelled a scheduled visit to Sudan on Wednesday due to the security unrest in the capital Tripoli, according to the Sudanese foreign ministry.
Al-Serraj was planned to arrive in Khartoum for a two-day visit for talks with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on bilateral relations.
Al-Serraj, however, has postponed his visit due to insecurity in Tripoli, which has made his movement very difficult, the ministry said in a statement.
According to the statement, the Libyan foreign minister has conveyed Al-Serraj’s apology to the Sudanese president over cancelling the visit.
Meanwhile, Tripoli’s political and military parties have continued their strife for power for the third day in a row.
The neighbourhoods of Gurji, Gergarish, Hay Al-Andalus and Ghout Al-Shaal, have seen violent clashes between armed groups from Misurata and other central region areas and security forces of the Government of National Accord since Monday night.
The clashes, which were triggered by the killing of a resident from Gurji near Aman Bank last week, continued and escalated on Tuesday using medium and light weapons.
No official numbers for the deaths and injuries have been given yet by either side, however, some sources said that over a dozen fighters have been killed so far, let alone the material damage that was caused.
Tripoli Security Department said in a statement that it is attempting to kick the armed groups and militias out of the areas of Hay Al-Andalus and Gurji in a cleansing operation of the individuals who are getting in the way of the areas’ security.
The clashes of Tuesday started after the forces of Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade, led by Haythem Al-Tajouri, and the GNA’s Security Department as well as some of the residents entered the area to drive the militias out of the positions they are located in.
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