28 people were killed and 130 others wounded in clashes in Tripoli on Friday, initial figures on casualties released by the Ministry of Health have shown.
The highest figures were recorded in Abu Salim neighborhood where the fiercest clashes took place. The ministry said the figures are not final because there are serious injuries.
Street-by-street fighting erupted early in the day between brigades loyal to Fayaz Sirraj-led Presidency Council and rival brigades aligned with the Salvation Government of Khalifa Al-Ghawiel.
The UN-proposed Presidency Council (PC) condemned the clashes and called Tripoli residents to stand with its government and its security brigades to repel the attackers.
Haitem Al-Tajouri-led Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade, one of the brigades of PC, took control of Hadba Prison, where senior Gaddafi officials are held, after hours of heavy exchange of fire with prison guards.
The Commander of the First Security Squad Salah Al-Barouni and Abu Baker Al-Mishai, both close aides to Haitem Al-Tajouri, were killed in the clashes. Armed groups loyal to the Presidency Council demolished the house of Khaled Al-Sharif, Chief of Hadba Prison.
A major fire broke out at Abu Salim carpet market due to the clashes, eyewitness said.
Random shells also fell on many residential areas causing panic among the locals and setting some flats on fire.
The Libyan branch of Mellitah Oil Company (ENI) in Al-Dahra neighborhood was hit with a random shell causing fire in the upper floor. The fire was extinguished by the National Safety Department.
The building of Al-Rahla Oil Services Company in Ban Ben Ghashir neighborhood was also damaged in the clashes.
