12 TRIPOLI-BASED MILITIAS KILLED DURING CLASHES WITH ISIL

Tripoli, 28 Jumadil Awwal 1436/19 March 2015 (MINA) – At least 12 militias loyal to Libya’s Tripoli-based government have been killed during clashes with ISIL Takfiri terrorists close to the central city of Sirte.

“Twelve heroes of the Libyan army have been killed treacherously at Noufliyeh,” Tripoli authorities said on Wednesday.

Noufliyeh is a stronghold of the Takfiri militants who have been in control of vast regions around Sirte since February, they added.

As of yet there have been no reports in relation to ISIL casualties, Press Tv quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

According to the Tripoli-based defense ministry, the fighting broke out on Saturday after ISIL fighters blocked a coastal road in protests to the arrests of some of their leaders.

The Tripoli-based General National Congress, backed by the Fajr Libya militias controlling the capital, are waging a war against the official Libyan army, supported by the Tobruk-based parliament, in the far east of the country.

The new Tripoli rulers have set up a rival parliament and government not recognized by the international community.

UN-brokered talks

Peace-talks brokered by the UN aimed at forming a unity government between Libya’s rival governments are to take up again on Thursday.

A delegation from the Tobruk-based government, “will participate in tomorrow’s dialogue session, although we don’t have a clear vision about what may come out of these discussions,” AFP quoted an internationally recognized government source as saying.

The two sides have so far held several rounds of UN-brokered peace talks that have failed to deliver any practical results.

Libya plunged into chaos following the ouster of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi which gave rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militias and deep political divisions. (T/P002/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)