Fresh clashes erupt in Libya

Clashes between local armed groups erupted just outside of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Saturday killing at least seven according to a medic.

On its second day, revolutionary forces from the port town of Zawiyah attacked targets with machine guns, grad rockets, and other forms of ammunition, near a military base in the rural area of Imaya which is inhabited by the large Wershifanna tribe.

The fighting comes at a time when the interim government is trying to quash brewing tension and talk of tribal disagreements with loyalists of slain leader Muammer Qaddafi.

The area under attack overlaps a main highway from Tripoli to the Tunisian border and oil and gas hubs close to Zawiyah.

This bout of violence raises serious concern about the amount of armed people on the streets as the country is grappling with a fragile law and order situation following the fall of the Qaddafi regime and incidents like this could hinder its transition to democracy.

In related news, Libya’s next prime minister, Abdurrahim el-Keib pledged to set up a national army in efforts to disband militias, but has yet to announce a solid outline for a government.