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Libya militia chases away US troops Libya militia chases away US troops
(about 1 hour later)
US forces flown to Libya to support government troops had to leave after landing because of demands from a local militia group, US officials say.US forces flown to Libya to support government troops had to leave after landing because of demands from a local militia group, US officials say.
It follows reports that 20 US special forces troops, equipped with advanced weaponry, landed on Monday at an airbase in western Libya.It follows reports that 20 US special forces troops, equipped with advanced weaponry, landed on Monday at an airbase in western Libya.
The troops decided to leave "in an effort to avoid conflict", a US Africa Command spokesman told the BBC. The troops chose to leave "in an effort to avoid conflict", a US Africa Command (Africom) spokesman told the BBC.
Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.
It has two rival governments, one based in the main city, Tripoli, and the other about 1,000km (620 miles) away in the port city of Tobruk. The US forces had travelled to Libya in order to "foster relationships and enhance communication with their counterparts in the Libyan National Army", Africom spokesman Anthony Falvo told the BBC.
The soldiers left without incident, he added.
BBC North Africa correspondent Rana Jawad says it is undoubtedly an embarrassing revelation for the Americans, who have strategic interests in Libya as part of their wider campaign against the so-called Islamic State.
Libya has two rival governments, one based in the main city, Tripoli, and the other about 1,000km (620 miles) away in the port city of Tobruk.
The two signed a deal in Morocco on Thursday, agreeing to form a national unity government.The two signed a deal in Morocco on Thursday, agreeing to form a national unity government.