A fight between two groups of anti-Gaddafi fighters broke out on Saturday, killing 12 and wounding 16 people. The fighting has its roots in ancient rivalries and pitted combatants from the towns of Gharyan and Kikla on the one side and from Asabah on the other, broke out on Saturday, according to the chief of the Gharyan council and confirmed by the head of the military council of Asabah.
The towns are on the eastern edge of the Nafusa Mountains and were important centres of resistance to Gaddafi’s forces in months of fighting to oust the strongman.
"Twelve people were killed and 16 others were wounded during the fighting which erupted when a brigade from Gharyan and Kikla came under fire at the town of Asabah," said Gharyan council head Wahid Barshan.
He added that the brigade had been ambushed "after demanding the return of their heavy weapons" left behind during fighting against Gaddafi’s forces.
The toll and the version of events were confirmed by the chairman of the Asabah military council, Saad al-Shartaa.
Traditionally, many people in Asabah were Gaddafi supporters, and according to the two officials, 20 of his fighters were captured during Saturday's fighting.
Shartaa said efforts had been made "to contain the situation" and that Libya's new ruling National Transitional Council had intervened in a bid to calm passions.
He said the origin of the feuding lies in the fact that Asabah is the hometown of Gaddafi’s one-time right-hand man, Ahmed Ramadan.
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