UN Special Advisor on Libya, Stephanie Williams, said Friday fighting between armed groups in Tripoli “must stop now, civilians must be protected and perpetrators held accountable.”
“I am outraged about the violence that erupted in Tripoli Thursday night, which killed and injured multiple people, including women and children at a wedding celebration,” Williams tweeted.
“The indiscriminate use of weapons in a heavily populated, urban area without safeguarding civilians is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and a sanctionable offense. This fighting must stop! Civilians must be protected and perpetrators held accountable,” according to the UN Advisor.
UN Support Mission in Libya UNSMIL had stated it received reports of civilian casualties as a result of clashes between two armed groups in Tripoli Thursday night.
“UNSMIL is deeply concerned about these developments and calls for an investigation into the incident and justice for the victims and their families. Any action that endangers the lives of civilians is unacceptable,” the Mission said in a statement.
UNSMIL called on “all Libyans to do everything possible to preserve the country’s fragile stability at this sensitive time.”
“All actors must exercise maximum restraint, address their disputes through dialogue and abide by their obligations under national and international law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure,” it pointed out.