Libya: fire breaks out in U.S. embassy in Tripoli amid violence
Fighters of Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government walk through debris as they are close to securing last Islamic State holdouts in Sirte, Libya December 5, 2016. REUTERS/Ayman Sahely
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Fire has broken out inside the United States embassy in Tripoli, Libyan media reported Tuesday as violence continues among armed groups linked with the internationally-recognized government.
Al-Marsad, an online Libyan news portal, said the fire behind the embassy’s wall has gone out of control.
The embassy is located on the ” (Tripoli) airport road”, where much of the violence has occurred over the past week.
No official statement has yet been made by the embassy confirming the incident.
World countries, United Nations agencies and the European Union have called for calm in Tripoli, urging all sides to the conflict to sit down for dialogue.
The U.N. mission in Libya is scheduled to sponsor a meeting today to address the security situation as clashes have claimed the lives of at least 40 people.
Libya, since the killing of former leader Muammar al-Qhadafi in the 2011 uprising, has been divided between the internationally-recognized government in the west and the elected, army-backed parliament in the east.