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| Libya in shock after Tripoli airport attack | Libya in shock after Tripoli airport attack |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Libyans are stunned after two days of fighting between rival militias leaves the country's main international airport out of action. | Libyans are stunned after two days of fighting between rival militias leaves the country's main international airport out of action. |
| At least eight people have died in the clashes and 12 planes were damaged. | At least eight people have died in the clashes and 12 planes were damaged. |
| The airport remains in the hands of the Zintan militia which has controlled it since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted. | The airport remains in the hands of the Zintan militia which has controlled it since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted. |
| The government has been unable to disarm the numerous armed groups that took part in the 2011 uprising and which have divided the country. | The government has been unable to disarm the numerous armed groups that took part in the 2011 uprising and which have divided the country. |
| All flights to and from the airport have been suspended until at least Wednesday. | All flights to and from the airport have been suspended until at least Wednesday. |
| The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says the airport's control tower has been damaged, along with fuel tanks and service areas, while the customs house has been completely destroyed. | The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says the airport's control tower has been damaged, along with fuel tanks and service areas, while the customs house has been completely destroyed. |
| Government spokesman Ahmed Lamine said that 90% of the planes stationed at the airport had been damaged. | Government spokesman Ahmed Lamine said that 90% of the planes stationed at the airport had been damaged. |
| He said the government was considering a request for "international forces to enhance security". | |
| "This would give the government time to build the state and institutions," he added. | "This would give the government time to build the state and institutions," he added. |
| On Sunday, militia including members of the Libya Revolutionaries Operations Room (LROR) tried to seize control of the airport from the Zintan militia. | On Sunday, militia including members of the Libya Revolutionaries Operations Room (LROR) tried to seize control of the airport from the Zintan militia. |
| Our correspondent says both militias are believed to be on the official payroll. | Our correspondent says both militias are believed to be on the official payroll. |
| Analysis: Rana Jawad, BBC News, Tripoli | Analysis: Rana Jawad, BBC News, Tripoli |
| The extent of the damage to the airport is not yet clear but some say it could take months before it reopens. | The extent of the damage to the airport is not yet clear but some say it could take months before it reopens. |
| Very little shocks Libyans these days, but the latest attack on this vital lifeline has left many at a loss for words. They didn't think any militia would ever go that far - it was raining Grad rockets across the airport and its surrounding area. | Very little shocks Libyans these days, but the latest attack on this vital lifeline has left many at a loss for words. They didn't think any militia would ever go that far - it was raining Grad rockets across the airport and its surrounding area. |
| Residents nearby have been terrified. Those who have the option to move to safer areas have - but most can't. | Residents nearby have been terrified. Those who have the option to move to safer areas have - but most can't. |
| One Libyan said it reminded her of the sanctions in the 1990s - when Libya was a pariah state under Col Gaddafi, cut off from much of the world and going abroad meant a boat or a road trip before possibly boarding a plane elsewhere. | One Libyan said it reminded her of the sanctions in the 1990s - when Libya was a pariah state under Col Gaddafi, cut off from much of the world and going abroad meant a boat or a road trip before possibly boarding a plane elsewhere. |
| The government says it is considering the possibility of requesting an international force - it could be an empty threat to gain more leverage on all the militias - but it could also be that they feel they have run out of options. A bigger, more powerful force is needed to subdue all the armed groups - that would take an army that Libya doesn't have. | The government says it is considering the possibility of requesting an international force - it could be an empty threat to gain more leverage on all the militias - but it could also be that they feel they have run out of options. A bigger, more powerful force is needed to subdue all the armed groups - that would take an army that Libya doesn't have. |
| The fighting has led the United Nations to announce the withdrawal of all its staff from Libya. | The fighting has led the United Nations to announce the withdrawal of all its staff from Libya. |
| "The mission concluded that it would not be possible to continue its work... while at the same time ensuring the security and safety of its staff," the UN said in a statement. | "The mission concluded that it would not be possible to continue its work... while at the same time ensuring the security and safety of its staff," the UN said in a statement. |
| Blessing and curse | Blessing and curse |
| Tripoli international airport, 30km (18 miles) south of the capital, is Libya's main transport link with the outside world. | Tripoli international airport, 30km (18 miles) south of the capital, is Libya's main transport link with the outside world. |
| The country's second-largest airport in Benghazi has been closed for two months. Misrata airport, the only remaining airport with regular international flights, was also closed on Monday. | The country's second-largest airport in Benghazi has been closed for two months. Misrata airport, the only remaining airport with regular international flights, was also closed on Monday. |
| Who are the militias? | |
| Libya Revolutionaries Operations Room: | |
| LROR used to be officially tasked with protecting the capital | |
| It was stripped of this power after its members kidnapped then Prime Minister Ali Zeidan in October 2013 | |
| LROR includes some well-known Islamists | |
| Still believed to be on official payroll | |
| Zintan militia: | |
| Formed in Zintan region and Nafusa Mountains in western Libya | |
| Controlled Tripoli airport and nearby area since 2011 | |
| Refuses to hand over Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, to central authority | |
| Believed to be on payroll of Ministry of Defence - fighters also enlisted in army | |
| Guide to Libya's militias | |
| Analysts say the various armed groups are seen by Libyans as both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, in the absence of an effective army, they provide security across much of the country and protect the borders. | Analysts say the various armed groups are seen by Libyans as both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, in the absence of an effective army, they provide security across much of the country and protect the borders. |
| On the other, they have been accused of human rights abuses, unlawful detention and of taking the law into their own hands. | On the other, they have been accused of human rights abuses, unlawful detention and of taking the law into their own hands. |
| Our correspondent says that none of the militias has any air force - they are engaged in a turf war. | Our correspondent says that none of the militias has any air force - they are engaged in a turf war. |
| The government uses some of the armed groups to provide security from time to time, including the Zintan militia. | The government uses some of the armed groups to provide security from time to time, including the Zintan militia. |
| The eastern city of Benghazi has been wracked by fighting between a rogue general, Khalifa Haftar, and Islamist groups, while many oil fields remain in the hands of separatist groups. | The eastern city of Benghazi has been wracked by fighting between a rogue general, Khalifa Haftar, and Islamist groups, while many oil fields remain in the hands of separatist groups. |
| Are you in the area? Please contact us by email talkingpoint@bbc.co.uk including the word 'Libya' in the subject title. | Are you in the area? Please contact us by email talkingpoint@bbc.co.uk including the word 'Libya' in the subject title. |