CAIRO — Fighting between opposition forces and the regime of Col.
Moammar Qaddafi has spread in Libya as thousands of government troops have been rushed to several cities.
Libyan opposition sources said tribes and other unemployed young men
were battling regime forces in at least two cities in the North African
state. The sources said the Qaddafi regime has imposed a news blackout as
well as laid siege to the cities.
"The regime is pouring in thousands of forces in several cities in Libya
to prevent the spread of a revolt," an opposition source said.
Libya has acknowledged the violence and at one point said 33 people were
killed or injured. But the regime said the clashes were between two rival
clans.
"Skirmishes between youths from Al Tabu and Zawia tribes evolved into
larger battles in which several cars and houses were burned," the Libyan
daily Al Watan said on Nov. 7.
Opposition sources said the fighting between tribal members and the
regime began in the southeastern Libyan city of Kufra. They said at least 11
people were killed in armed clashes between the Tabu tribe and security
forces in early November.
Several days later, the fighting was said to have spread to Libya's
second largest city, Benghazi. The sources said opposition forces, joined by
unemployed youth, were fighting the military and police in the streets of
Benghazi.
