Local turf wars leave one dead west of Libyan capital

By Jabour Dokan

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) - Cautious calm prevailed in Libya’s Janzour area west of Tripoli on Monday evening after clashes between two armed groups one day earlier left at least one person dead.

The clashes subsided Monday morning after the two groups -- the self-styled "Fursan Janzour" and armed fighters from the nearby Warshfana area -- hammered out a ceasefire deal.

On Sunday, the Tripoli-based Presidential Council (part of Libya’s UN-backed unity government) had called on the warring groups to "exercise restraint and stop terrorizing residents".

A source within the Fursan Janzour ("Knights of Janzour") told Anadolu Agency that the clashes had prompted a number of local families to flee the area.

"Our aim is to save our neighborhood; we don’t have any ulterior motives," the source, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said.

"At least one person has been killed and another four injured since the outbreak of fighting," he added.

Libya has remained in a state of turmoil since 2011, when a bloody uprising ended with the ouster and death of longtime strongman Muammar Gaddafi.