Fighting continued in Sabha city Saturday night Tripoli – Emad Agag Despite the ceasefire that the Libyan government announced to end the tribal clashes in a southern Libya oasis that killed at least 147 people and wounded 395, fighting continued in Sabha city Saturday night.
Libya’s Health Minister Fatima al-Hamrush said “The number of people killed is 147,” adding that the number included casualties from both sides of the conflict.
Hamrush said 395 people had been wounded, including 129 who had been brought to the capital for treatment, in clashes that pitted Toubou fighters against Arab tribesmen.
Libya’s interim government on Saturday announced a ceasefire aimed at ending the deadly tribal clashes.
“We announce that reconciliation efforts have resulted in an accord on a ceasefire,” Prime Ministerr Abdel Rahim al-Kib told reporters in the capital, adding that “calm now prevails in Sabha,” 750 kilometers (465 miles) to the south.
On Saturday at least 16 were killed in renewed clashes.
A doctor at Sabha hospital, treating Arab casualties, said eight people were killed and another 50 wounded in fighting between the early morning and noon. A Toubou tribal source said eight of their people were also killed.
For his part, Libyan defence minister denied rumours about foreigners’ militants involved in the fighting.
It’s worth mentioning that, media reports said previously that the defence minister resigned following the clashes, but the government spokesman denied.
Meanwhile, Libyan businessman Idris Ferjani told Arabstoday that the ongoing clashes in Sabha was planned by the former head of intelligence Abdullah al-Sanusi in order to delay his handing over to Libya.
Sabha residents said that the rivalry burst into open conflict on Monday after a Toubou shot a member of the Arab Abu Seif tribe, and then a delegation of Toubou elders and armed men was ambushed on its way to peace talks.
The Toubou and Arab tribes fought in another oasis region, Kufra, in February, and Sabha residents said the two groups exchanged fire using automatic rifles, mortars and rockets. A spokesman for the Toubou, Mohammed Lino, said that about 70 Toubou homes were burnt and 100 families had been forced to flee the city during the past week of violence.