Tribal clashes kill 17 in Libya

Twenty people were killed and 90 wounded during the last 48 hours in battles between two tribes in the desert region south east Libya, at the border with Chad, tribal sources reported. Fights broke out between Zwai and Tobu tribes in the town of Kufra on Sunday when 5 were killed, according to sources from the two tribes. On Monday, the death toll rose to 17, five of whom are from Tobu. Mohammed Al-Harizi, the spokesman of the ruling National Transitional Council, confirmed that five were killed and 20 wounded, however, at the early evening, he was not sure of the new toll. Before noon Al-Harizi said: “It is an issue between the two tribes, and efforts are underway to reach a peaceful solution.” He then explained that the clashes began when an “armed group” attacked residents from Kufra, “and the revolutionists counter attacked and drove the group out of the town.” At first the combatants used light weapons, but the situation developed to use anti-tank launchers and heavy machine guns, according to tribal sources. A Tobu citizen said that the National Transitional Council supports the other tribe, and added, “there is a scheme to eliminate Tobu and our situation has become worse than it was during Gaddafi’s reign”. However, a source from Zwai tribe said that the battles broke out three days earlier in Kufra after one of the tribesmen was shot dead by three dark people who are likely to be from Tobu. Tobu people also live in Niger and Chad. They used to object Gaddafi’s marginalisation and his refusal to grant some of their children the Libyan nationality because of their Chadian roots. Kufra is a town of 40 thousand inhabitants. It is located on the border with Chad, Sudan and Egypt, and is considered a strategic transit point for smugglers across the desert.