body-container-line-1

Death Toll Tops 200 In Battle For Libya's Tripoli: Who

By AFP
Libya Smoke rises from an air strike behind a tank and pickup trucks of Libya's Government of National Accord during clashes in Wadi Rabie suburb south of the capital Tripoli..  By Mahmud TURKIA AFP
APR 18, 2019 LISTEN
Smoke rises from an air strike behind a tank and pickup trucks of Libya's Government of National Accord during clashes in Wadi Rabie suburb south of the capital Tripoli.. By Mahmud TURKIA (AFP)

At least 205 people have been killed and more than 900 wounded in the battle for control of the Libyan capital Tripoli, the World Health Organization said Thursday.

Fighting broke out on April 4 when military strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive to take Tripoli, seat of the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).

Reporting at least 205 people dead and 913 wounded, WHO said it was keeping medical and surgical teams deployed at field hospitals near the front lines.

More than 25,000 people have been displaced by the clashes between GNA forces and Haftar's fighters south of Tripoli, including 4,500 over the previous 24 hours, the International Organization for Migration said Wednesday.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said it was the highest single-day increase in displacement.

body-container-line