WHO: At least 47 killed in last 3 days in Libya clashes

By Bayram Altug

GENEVA (AA) - At least 47 people were killed and 181 others wounded over last three days in Libya clashes, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Last Thursday, Khalifa Haftar, a military commander based in eastern Libya, launched military operations with an ambitious campaign to capture the capital Tripoli, where the Government of National Accord is headquartered. After initial success, however, the campaign on Monday appeared to have lost momentum.

Addressing a news conference at UN Geneva office, Tarik Jasarevic, a spokesman of the WHO, said among those killed were two doctors rushing to the aid of people seriously wounded.

He underlined that attacks on health institutions and employees are a violation of international human rights law.

Babor Baloch, a spokesperson for UN High Commission for Refugees, said there were 5,700 refugees and irregular migrants in the official detention centers in Libya, adding that the number can hike when those held in unofficial detention centers are taken into account.

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when a bloody NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and death of President Muammar Gaddafi after four decades in power.

Since then, the country’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power: one in eastern Libya, with which Haftar is associated, and another in Tripoli, which enjoys UN support.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev