Libya Clashes

Militias patrolled nearly deserted streets in Libya's capital Sunday, a day after clashes killed over 30 people and ended Tripoli's months-long stretch of relative calm. The fighting broke out early Saturday and pitted militias loyal to the Tripoli-based government against other armed groups allied with a rival administration that has for months sought to be seated in the capital. Residents fear the fighting that capped a months-long political deadlock could explode into a wider war and a return to the peaks of Libya's long-running conflict. Libya has plunged into chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The oil-rich county has for years been split between rival administrations, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments. The current stalemate grew out of the failure to hold elections in December and Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah's refusal to step down. In response, the country's east-based parliament appoint

The United States on Monday called for immediate de-escalation of violence in Libya and expressed concern over renewed threats of violent confrontation in Tripoli. The vast majority of Libyans seek to choose their leadership peacefully through elections, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said, calling on those who risk once again being dragged into violence to put down their arms. He in particular urged Libya's leaders to recommit themselves without delay to identifying a constitutional basis for presidential and parliamentary elections. The United States is deeply concerned by renewed threats of violent confrontation in Tripoli and calls for immediate de-escalation by all sides, Price said in a statement. The ongoing instability is a reminder of the urgent need for the appointment of a new UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Libya to resume mediation efforts, with unified support from the international community, he said. The United States will amplify ou

Guterres denounced the "horrendous" attack and demanded "an independent investigation", his spokesman said

It said it would give the number of wounded in a later statement