Clashes between protesters and militias aligned with the military in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi have left 27 people killed and dozens wounded, a health official said on Sunday.
The violence broke out on Saturday after protesters stormed a base belonging to Libya Shield, a grouping of militias with roots in the rebel groups that fought in the country’s 2011 civil war.
Protesters were demanding that militias leave their camp and submit to the full authority of Libya’s security forces. The death toll is likely to increase public backlash against militias, who have been accused of acting with impunity, abusing citizens and enforcing their own agendas.
Benghazi saw anti-militia demonstrations after the attack last September that killed US ambassador Chris Stevens and three other US citizens. But the central government’s security forces remain weak and have continued to rely on militia help.
Mohamed Belied, who is director at the city’s al-Jala hospital, said the deaths were caused by gunshots and explosive fragments. Libyan officials have provided few details of the clashes and it was unclear how many of the casualties were protesters and how many were members of the militias. Officials originally reported seven dead.
Prime Minister Ali Zidan, in a statement issued early Sunday after he cut short his tour in Libya’s western towns, described the events as “sad and painful” and urged people to be cautious and exercise self-restraint.
He said the protesters demanded that a checkpoint at the entrance of the town be removed and that members of the Libya Shield leave the camp allowing the police and the army to take control of security issues. He said full details would be announced when investigations were completed.
“We have to find a solution to the weapons in the hands of people, so that such events would not happen again,” Zidan said.
Colonel Ali al-Shikhi, the armed forces spokesman, said the armed forces had taken control of the situation inside the camp, including protecting heavy weapons stores.
Al-Shikhi said the events were the result of “irregular coordination” between the people and the armed men in the camp, who are considered a reserve force for the Libyan army.
The fighting was the latest episode of lawlessness to hit the North African country, which is going through a rocky transition after its bloody 2011 civil war.
Security remains elusive in the country, which is still awash with weapons from the war and prone to outbreaks of violence over private and political affairs. A personal feud last week sparked clashes between tribes of African and Arab origins in southern Libya, leaving five people dead.