Inevitable: Rival Libyan militias clash for fourth straight day

The fighting, which has left at least four people dead since late last week, raised new concerns about the ability of Libya’s transitional government to disarm thousands of fighters and restore order after a bloody eight-month civil war.

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Libya’s interim leader, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, said his National Transitional Council brought together elders from the rival areas — the coastal city of Zawiya and the nearby town of Warshefana — over the weekend and that the dispute has been resolved. “I want to assure the Libyan people that everything is under control,” he said Sunday.

However, as he spoke, fighting continued…

The reason for the initial clash remains unclear, though rumors have been flying, including that some of the Warshefana had links to the old regime. At one point last week, fighters from Zawiya entered Warshefana and seized weapons. In retaliation, Warshefana fighters set up random checkpoints and fired at the main highway.

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