Sun Nov 17, 2013 09:04:04
Iran has expressed deep sorrow and concern over the deadly clashes between protesters and militiamen in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham on Saturday called for national unity and the disarmament of militia groups in the North African country, Press TV reported.
She also extended condolences to the families of the victims.
43 people were killed and over 450 injured in two days of clashes between protesters and former rebels who toppled longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The deadly violence began Friday after militiamen opened fire on a large group of protesters who had marched to the headquarters of the Misrata militia to demand the militiamen’s eviction from Tripoli.
Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, who was briefly abducted by militiamen last month in an incident that underscored growing instability, called on both sides to "exercise maximum restraint" and urged an end to the clashes.
Nearly two years after the fall of Gaddafi, Libya remains grappling with lawlessness and insecurity, with fierce clashes erupting between rival militias.
The former rebels have been refusing to either lay down arms or join the Libyan national army despite efforts by the central government to impose law and order.
HH/HH
string(1706) "[{"id":"1522018","sort":"3122204","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/10/03/alalam_635164202877987919_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Libya militants attack Russian Embassy in Tripoli"} ,{"id":"1522193","sort":"3122205","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/10/04/alalam_635165015541250503_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Russia evacuates embassy staff in Libya"} ,{"id":"1522801","sort":"3122206","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/10/06/alalam_635166928646167272_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Tripoli protests US kidnap of Libyan in al-Qaeda raid"} ,{"id":"1522964","sort":"3122207","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/10/07/alalam_635167677530079137_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Libya soldiers occupy PM office: TV"} ,{"id":"1523289","sort":"3122208","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/10/09/alalam_635169126226077884_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"US shifts marines to Italy as situation in Libya becomes tense"} ,{"id":"1523472","sort":"3122209","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/10/10/alalam_635169899807031839_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Armed men kidnap Libyan prime minister"} ,{"id":"1523813","sort":"3122210","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/10/11/alalam_635171059251261353_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Car bomb hits Swedish consulate in Libya"} ,{"id":"1525691","sort":"3122211","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/10/18/alalam_635177126718649958_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Armed men gun down Libyan military police chief"} ,{"id":"1531143","sort":"3122212","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/11/04/alalam_635191764804494465_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"East Libya launches autonomous government"} ,{"id":"1534973","sort":"3122213","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2013/11/16/alalam_635202235185327652_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Two days of bloody clashes in Tripoli leave 43 dead"} ]"