At least 21 dead and several injured in tribal clashes in Libya

At least 21 people were killed and hundreds wounded in four days of fighting between two rival tribes in the southern Libyan town of Sebha.

The clashes are between the Awled Suleiman tribe and the tribe of deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi, the Guedadfa tribe.

The death toll is at 21 and about one hundred wounded from the Awled Suleiman tribe, according to the head of the Sebha Medical Center, Nasser al-Jehimi.

The number of wounded victims on the part of the Guedadfa tribe is not known as they are being treated in another hospital.

The reasons for the conflict remain unclear, but according to Libyan media and social networks, the clashes erupted on Thursday after a monkey belonging to a member of one of the two tribes allegedly assaulted a schoolgirl whose family came from the rival tribe.

This version could not be confirmed from official sources.

Salah Badr, a member of the city council contacted by AFP pointed out that tensions between the two tribes have existed for years.

“A minor incident that happened set the whole city on fire,” he said, without further clarification.

Several homes have been hit by rockets and mortar shells, witnesses said.

The Sebha Medical Center reiterated that all its staff assume neutrality with respect to the two rival camps while stressing that it is not responsible for the safety of the injured under its care.