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Libya militia takes control of Tripoli airport | Libya militia takes control of Tripoli airport |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A heavily armed militia has taken over a runway at Libya's main airport in the capital, Tripoli, demanding the release of a leader who went missing on Sunday. | |
But as negotiations failed to progress, security forces and militiamen from other brigades entered the airport vowing to oust the group by force. | |
The al-Awfia brigade earlier occupied the airport runway with armoured vehicles, forcing flight diversions. | |
Gunfire was heard and correspondents say the situation is developing fast. | |
The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says it is unclear if gunmen are firing at one another or in the air. | |
Dozens of militiamen from the al-Awfia group have been occupying the airport for hours. | |
But our correspondent witnessed about 30 armoured vehicles carrying a mixture of security forces and militiamen from various armed brigades entering the airport. | |
The al-Awfia group is refusing to leave until its demand for a senior commander to be released is met. | |
But it is unclear whether al-Awfia's commander has been kidnapped or is being held for questioning by the government. | |
The brigade has placed a pick-up truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun underneath each of the six planes on the tarmac, our correspondent says. | The brigade has placed a pick-up truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun underneath each of the six planes on the tarmac, our correspondent says. |
"They are on the runway, in the car park, everywhere," an official told Reuters news agency. | "They are on the runway, in the car park, everywhere," an official told Reuters news agency. |
A representative from the western town of Tarhouna, where the brigade is based, is at the airport to negotiate with the rebels and convince them to give up their action. | |
But there is no sign of progress in the negotiations. | |
Airport sources told the BBC that at least three airlines have cancelled their flights. | Airport sources told the BBC that at least three airlines have cancelled their flights. |
Several international airlines have resumed flights to Libya since the end of the conflict which toppled Muammar Gaddafi. | |
Libya's interim government seized control of the airport in Tripoli in April, taking over from militia fighters who had been providing security in the absence of an official force. |