Uprising spreads to second city in Libya
Friday, November 14, 2008 Free Headline Alerts
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.