16 people feared dead in Libya after monkey attack sparks tribal war

No less than 16 people have been killed after a pet monkey attacked a high school girl by pulling off her headscarf sparking days of deadly tribal clashes in southern Libya.

However, there are conflicting reports as regards the death toll arising from the deadly clashes with Reuters reporting that at least 16 people died in four days of fighting, while Abdel-Rahman Areish, the head of Sabha city hospital, told newsmen on Sunday 20 people have been killed and 50 wounded.

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According to an eyewitness, violence erupted after a monkey that belonged to a shopkeeper from the Gaddadfa tribe attacked a group of schoolgirls passing by.

The monkey pulled off a girl’s headscarf and reportedly bit and scratched her, leading men from the Awlad Suleiman tribe to retaliate by killing three Gaddadfa people – as well as the monkey.

“There was an escalation on the second and third days with the use of tanks, mortars, and other heavy weapons,” a resident told Reuters on condition of anonymity because of the denigrating security situation.

“There are still sporadic clashes and life is completely shut down in the areas where there has been fighting.”

 

 

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