Deadly clashes rock Libya's Bani Walid

October 11, 2012 02:28

Deadly clashes between armed groups rocked Bani Walid, a final bastion of support of slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, as a siege of the hilltop town was partially lifted, residents said.

Fighters from Bani Walid -- a town still seen by many Libyans as never truly "liberated" in last year's anti-Gaddafi revolt -- clashed with militiamen from the nearby city of Misrata who have encircled it in their search for killers of a former rebel credited with capturing the slain dictator last year.

A Bani Walid militia commander gave no specific reason for Wednesday's clashes but said the fighting left one fighter killed.

A local town official put the toll as high as 10.

Bani Walid has been tense for weeks with threat of a direct assault on the town looming large in the wake of the death of Omar Ben Shaaban, 22, a former rebel from Misrata who was credited with capturing Muammar Gaddafi.

Shaaban was shot, kidnapped and allegedly tortured in the town. The death of Shaaban stoked tensions between Misrata and Bani Walid, neighbouring but historically rival cities which found themselves on opposite sides of the 2011 conflict that ousted Gaddafi.

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