The standoff between the Libya Shield forces (Misrata) and the Zintan Qaaqaa and Sawaiq militia intensified towards the end of last week, with over 50 killed by the weekend. U.S, Dutch, French, and German embassies have urged their nationals to leave Libya, while the U.S embassy evacuated its personnel. Meanwhile, a missile had hit an oil tank near the airport leading to a blaze that spread to a second tank on Sunday. The government had urged residents within 5 km radius of the tanker compound to evacuate the area, and had called for international assistance to help extinguish the fires. An environmental disaster is feared should the fire spread to the remaining 10 tanks on the road to the airport. With such a dangerous situation in Tripoli and a similar picture in Benghazi the transfer of power from the GNC to the newly elected parliament, due on 4 August in Benghazi, will most likely not take place. Benghazi’s airport is itself closed and the town is the theatre of another fierce standoff, despite reports that the pro-Hafter Saiqa special forces have lost most of their operational bases there.
http://www.libyaherald.com/2014/07/28/government-requests-international-help-to-extinguish-brega-oil-depot-fire-and-tells-resident-to-leave/#axzz38nzQ59lN
