Clashes between rival factions in Tripoli, Libya's capital, have caused civilian deaths, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.
The ministry said on Sunday that 32 people were killed and 159 wounded during the fighting between rival armed groups, which began over Friday night and continued into Saturday, setting buildings on fire and damaging hospitals.
The ministry earlier said it was receiving pleas from residents trapped by the fighting for safe corridors to get out of the area.
Members of the municipal council in Tripoli have called for calm after deadly clashes broke out on Saturday.
Armed groups have gathered around the capital in recent weeks amid a political stand-off for control of Libya's government.
Pictures and a video shared online showed military vehicles speeding through the streets, fighters shooting and residents trying to douse fires.
“This is horrible. My family and I could not sleep because of the clashes,” Abdulmenam Salem, a resident of central Tripoli, told Reuters.
"The sound was too loud and too frightening. We stayed awake in case we had to leave quickly. It's a terrible feeling.”
The Health Ministry of the Government of National Unity asked for donations of all blood types to save the lives of those injured in the clashes.
News agency Lana said actor Mustafa Baraka had been killed in one of the neighbourhoods hit by fighting, sparking anger and mourning on social media.
The UN Support Mission in Libya said it was “deeply concerned” about armed clashes, including indiscriminate medium and heavy shelling of neighbourhoods in Tripoli.
“The UN calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and reminds all parties of their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian objects,” the mission said on Twitter.
It demanded that all parties refrain from using any form of hate speech and incitement to violence.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation condemned the violence and called on all parties "to immediately halt military operations, preserve the safety of civilians, government headquarters and property".
The US embassy in Tripoli said Washington was “very concerned about violent clashes in Tripoli, with reports of civilian casualties and property destruction”.
“We stand with the Libyan people in calling for peaceful dialogue,” the embassy said.
On Saturday, US ambassador to Libya Richard Norland said he met the head of Libya's Presidential Council Mohammed Al Menfi on Friday, and they discussed the importance of avoiding violent clashes in Tripoli and the need for de-escalation.
“We agreed on the urgent need to finalise a constitutional basis and move towards elections, and also on the importance of taking steps to enhance transparency and accountability in the management of Libyan oil revenue,” Mr Norland said on Twitter.
Libya has been racked by conflict since a Nato-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.
The main Libyan stand-off pits the Government of National Unity in Tripoli under Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah against a rival administration under Fathi Bashagha, which is backed by the eastern-based Parliament.
The UN mission in the country gave a warning this week against any attempt to resolve the dispute through violence.
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
'Young girls thinking of big ideas'
Words come easy for aspiring writer Afra Al Muhairb. The business side of books, on the other hand, is entirely foreign to the 16-year-old Emirati. So, she followed her father’s advice and enroled in the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s summer entrepreneurship course at Abu Dhabi University hoping to pick up a few new skills.
“Most of us have this dream of opening a business,” said Afra, referring to her peers are “young girls thinking of big ideas.”
In the three-week class, pupils are challenged to come up with a business and develop an operational and marketing plan to support their idea. But, the learning goes far beyond sales and branding, said teacher Sonia Elhaj.
“It’s not only about starting up a business, it’s all the meta skills that goes with it -- building self confidence, communication,” said Ms Elhaj. “It’s a way to coach them and to harness ideas and to allow them to be creative. They are really hungry to do this and be heard. They are so happy to be actually doing something, to be engaged in creating something new, not only sitting and listening and getting new information and new knowledge. Now they are applying that knowledge.”
Afra’s team decided to focus their business idea on a restaurant modelled after the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Each level would have a different international cuisine and all the meat would be halal. The pupils thought of this after discussing a common problem they face when travelling abroad.
“Sometimes we find the struggle of finding halal food, so we just eat fish and cheese, so it’s hard for us to spend 20 days with fish and cheese,” said Afra. “So we made this tower so every person who comes – from Africa, from America – they will find the right food to eat.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
