An anti-militia protest in Tripoli's Algeria Square
Friday
It all started with an anti-militia protest in Tripoli.
More than 40 were killed, close to 400 injured, all as a result of Friday's event involving a November 15 shootout on anti-militia groups in Tripoli by gunmen from nearby city Misrata.
The Friday protest involved close to 500 people, Reuters reports, all calling for the militia groups to leave the capital city of Libya. They marched to the militia headquarters in the Gharghur district, just before shots were heard and a few marchers were hit. Shortly after, it was reported that people from the protest left and grabbed weapons to further defend themselves from the gunmen.
Because of this, the Misrata militia called for support in fear of losing their power and footing in Tripoli. Other groups from around the city announced they were on the way to defend the group strapped under community civilian pressure.
The Libya Herald reports the Misrata militia claims they were first shot at by the protesters, thus forcing them to only defend themselves. The Herald also hosted an eyewitness account disputing that claim.
Libya has sought to bring the militias under control by putting them on the government payroll and assigning them to protect government offices. But gunmen often remain loyal to their own commanders and battle for control of local areas.
Saturday
Clashes continued throughout the night after Friday's deadly violence as loud gunfights were heard in the late hours of the morning on November 16.
The Libya Herald reported somewhere around three dead and 45 injured in Saturday's violence, taking place just east of Tripoli. There were rumblings of attacks on the Misrata neighborhood, including shops and houses of those who had no connection to the militia.
Protests continued across Tripoli and Libya against the presence of militias in their neighborhoods. Misrata residents braved facing prosecution by rallying in opposition to their city's militia group.
A three day general strike was declared that would start Sunday, involving both the private and public sectors of Tripoli, reported CNN reporter Jomana Karadsheh. She added in the initial report it'd exclude "medical facilities, bakeries, pharmacies and gas stations."
Prime Minister Ali Zeidan called for calm in the nation as the international community denounced the deadly Friday violence.
Sunday
Update: The death toll from Friday's Gharghur violence reached 47, the Libya Herald reports. They source the Tripoli Local Council as saying the number of those injured reached 518. The more severe cases had gone to Tunisia or to Europe for better care.
Protests continued November 17 and the capital strike began.
Later into Sunday, it was announced the Misrata militia group would leave the capital city of Tripoli within the next 72 hours.
Currently, there is still much confusion on what the announcement details or even if it is valid at all.
"Misratan military, council and civil society leaders this evening agreed at a meeting in the city that all Misratan units would be withdrawn from Tripoli within 72 hours," the Libya Herald reports. They source Misrata local council members in their report.
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