Violence kills 16 in Libya, as death toll rises to 356

TRIPOLI, Nov 16 (KUNA) -- At least 16 people were killed and four others wounded in violent clashes in Benghazi, Libya late Saturday, leading the death toll to rise to 356 within a month.
Officials at Benghazi medical center told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that there were two Egyptians among the 16, adding that another ten of the deceased showed signs that they had been "executed with guns." The clashes which broke out on October 15 of this year killed over 200 Libyan soldiers along with a number of civilians and Islamic militant fighters. The violence involved Libyan Army troops, reinforced by gunmen loyal to retired Major-General Khalifa Haftar, and the extremist Islamists, who took control of Benghazi last July.
Islamist groups including Ansar al-Sharia, which is listed by Western countries including the US as a terrorist organization, have been controlling the country since the 2011 rebellion that toppled former president Muammar Gaddafi's regime.
Benghazi is suffering shortage of necessities, including medical supplies, fuel and food. Moreover, the city's educational institutions, hospitals and governmental buildings have all stopped working due to violence and chaos.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the crisis forced about 100,000 Libyans to flee their homes last month. The Commission's Spokesperson Adrian Edwards noted that about 400,000 citizens were displaced to other 35 towns and cities inside Libya since the violence broke out last May. These victims are in urgent need for shelter, health care, water and other items for survival, he added.(end) nam.ag