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Libya crisis: Tensions rise as Tripoli airport changes hands Libya crisis: Tensions rise as Tripoli airport seized
(about 5 hours later)
Libya's newly-elected parliament has condemned as terrorists the militia alliance which says it has captured Tripoli's international airport. An armed militia alliance in Libya has captured Tripoli's international airport after a battle lasting nearly a month.
It said the alliance was now a legitimate target for the armed forces. Islamist-affiliated forces from Misrata and other cities took over the airport from the Zintan militia, which has held it for three years.
The alliance includes Islamists and fighters from the city of Misrata. Libya's new parliament, largely opposed to the Islamists, condemned the move.
A spokesman for the militia said that the new parliament was illegitimate and called for the country's former governing body, the Islamist-dominated General National Council, to reconvene. Violence in Libya has surged recently between the rival groups who overthrew Muammar Gaddafi in the 2011 uprising.
The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says there are uncomfirmed reports of battles continuing between rival armed groups on the outskirts of the city, and explosions can be heard. The airport, Libya's largest, has been closed for over a month because of the fighting.
The country has been by gripped by conflict between rival militias that spearheaded the 2011 uprising against long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi. Several hundred people have died in a recent upsurge of fighting. Hundreds have died since fighting broke out in Tripoli in July. Millions of dollars in damage has been caused to the airport.
The militia alliance - which includes some Islamist fighters and others from the city of Misrata - said it had won control of the airport despite being targeted by mystery airstrikes for a second time this week. 'Sovereignty' at stake
The reported fall of the airport is a setback for the rival militia from the city of Zintan, allies of Gen Khalifa Haftar, who launched a campaign earlier this year against what he termed the "Islamist-dominated" government. They had controlled the airport for nearly three years. Libya's new parliament, the House of Representatives, said the groups now in control of the airport were "terrorist organisations".
Shortly afterwards the parliament, which is based in the eastern city of Tobruk because Tripoli and Benghazi are mostly outside government control, declared the victorious militias to be "terrorist organisations". The new parliament, which is based in Tobruk because of violence in Libya's main cities, has repeatedly called for the militia groups wielding power in the country to disband the join the nascent national army.
The statement did not include criticism of the Zintan militia, which now appears to have withdrawn from Tripoli. But so far, few have shown a willingness to disarm.
Our correspondent says this omission suggests that the parliament has included them in some wider plan.
Analysis by the BBC's Rana Jawad in TripoliAnalysis by the BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli
The significance of one militia seizing Tripoli's airport from another is difficult for many civilians in the capital to grasp - especially those displaced by the fighting, and families who have had to bury their dead after stray rockets hit their homes.The significance of one militia seizing Tripoli's airport from another is difficult for many civilians in the capital to grasp - especially those displaced by the fighting, and families who have had to bury their dead after stray rockets hit their homes.
Libya's main airport is a wreck, but it didn't stop those who overran it taking pictures of each other celebrating what they see as a victory.Libya's main airport is a wreck, but it didn't stop those who overran it taking pictures of each other celebrating what they see as a victory.
It's a symbolic win for them and their backers. However, as long as Libya's airports, oil terminals, ports and other key institutions are run by militias on either side of the divide, nothing has really changed on the ground.It's a symbolic win for them and their backers. However, as long as Libya's airports, oil terminals, ports and other key institutions are run by militias on either side of the divide, nothing has really changed on the ground.
It won't until the state takes control, and it is nowhere near doing so.It won't until the state takes control, and it is nowhere near doing so.
The violence - which correspondents say is the worst since the overthrow of Col Gadaffi - has been centred around the airport and in the eastern city of Benghazi. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Misratan-led militia alliance called for the previous Islamist-dominated parliament to reconvene.
Several hundred people are believed to have died in July and August in an upsurge of unrest. Umar Humaydan, who was himself a spokesman for the previous parliament, said that the move was necessary to "save the country's sovereignty".
Observers have often pointed out that Libya's complex web of militias often operate on a "my enemy's enemy is my friend" basis. It follows claims by the Misratan-led forces that they were targeted by mystery airstrikes for a second time this week.
However, correspondents say the call is likely to fall on deaf ears.
Explosions in capital
Our correspondent in Tripoli says there were unconfirmed reports of battles continuing between rival armed groups on the outskirts of the city on Saturday evening. Explosions could also be heard in the capital.
The capture of the airport is a setback for Zintani forces, who are loosely allied to Gen Khalifa Haftar.
The ex-army chief, whose forces mainly operate in the east of the country, launched a campaign earlier this year against what he termed the "Islamist-dominated" government.
The country's militias and political parties alike have had shifting alliances over the last two years.The country's militias and political parties alike have had shifting alliances over the last two years.
Our correspondent says that it is not a clear-cut Islamist versus nationalist battle because some militias are essentially fighting for their continued existence and empowerment. Our correspondent says that the struggle is not a clear-cut Islamist versus nationalist battle because some militias are essentially fighting for their continued existence and empowerment.
Thousands have fled their homes to escape the violence.Thousands have fled their homes to escape the violence.
More than three years after Gaddafi was overthrown and killed, Libya's police and army remain weak in comparison with the militias who control large parts of the country.More than three years after Gaddafi was overthrown and killed, Libya's police and army remain weak in comparison with the militias who control large parts of the country.
Are you in Tripoli or Benghazi? Are you affected by the recent events in Tripoli Airport? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co. Are you in Tripoli or Benghazi? Are you affected by the recent events in Tripoli Airport? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk