UN Mission ‘Concerned’ About Violence Between Rival Libyan Governments

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Saturday condemned the ongoing violence in the capital Tripoli. “The United Nations in Libya is deeply concerned about ongoing armed clashes including indiscriminate medium and heavy shelling in civilian-populated neighborhoods in Tripoli, reportedly causing civilian casualties and damage to civilian facilities including hospitals,” UNSMIL said in a statement. The mission called for a halt in the hostilities, reminded all parties of their “obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian objects,” and said that all parties must “refrain from using any form of hate speech and incitement to violence,” the statement said. The clashes broke out on Friday in several areas of central Tripoli between armed groups affiliated with rival governments that both claim to be the legitimate rulers of the country. Libya’s House of Representatives in February appointed a new government headed by Fathi Bashagha. But the Tripoli-based Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh refused to step down, saying his government would only relinquish the reins of state power to an elected government.