Several dead after clashes outside Tripoli

Several people have died as suspected Gaddafi loyalists launched a series of attacks on the outskirts of Tripoli. The deaths occurred near the port of Zawiyah, as anti-Gaddafi forces in the city fought back against pro-Gaddafi militias stationed just outside.

Since the death of Gaddafi, there have been renewed concerns that loyalist forces could yet seek to destabilise the new government. It’s estimated that up to 10,000 armed former Gaddafi loyalists are still roaming Libya, and while many are expected to simply give up, some are driven by an ideological belief that the new government must be brought down.

A spokesman for the new Libyan government has insisted that the supposed pro-Gaddafi forces are in fact just opportunists seeking to loot areas of Zawiyah. But whatever their motives, these armed groups are starting to cause real concern for many Libyans.