Clashes erupt in Libya, airports shutdown

Militias also clashed in Tripoli on Sunday, forcing the closure of the main airport and air control centre, effectively leaving Libya with no international flight access. The fighting was the worst in the capital for six months, killing at least seven people.

Three years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has slipped deep into chaos with its weak government and new army unable to control brigades of former rebel fighters and militias who often battle for political and economic power.

In Benghazi, irregular forces loyal to renegade former general Khalifa Haftar bombarded Islamist militia bases as part of his campaign to oust militants, and special forces also clashed with militia fighters in the city.

Six people were killed and 25 others wounded, mostly civilians, in the fighting, according to security and medical sources at Benghazi hospital. At least 10 houses were damaged after being hit with missiles and government offices and banks were forced to close.

Tripoli airport and Misrata city airport were closed on Monday which, along with the closure two months ago of Benghazi airport, leaves the country with only a land route to Tunisia, a flashback to the 1990s when Libya was under U.N. sanctions.

The Tripoli air control centre covering western Libya was closed because it was not safe for staff to go to work, aviation officials and state news agency Lana said on Monday. The control centre is responsible for traffic in Tripoli, Misrata and Sabha. That leaves only Labraq and Tobruk in east open for traffic.

Western powers worry chaos in Libya will allow arms and militants to flow across its borders. Already the south of the vast desert country has become a haven for Islamist militants kicked out of Mali by French forces earlier this year.

(Reporting by Ayman al-Warfalli; Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)