TRIPOLI
The U.S. on Saturday evacuated its embassy staff from the Libyan capital Tripoli to neighboring Tunisia against the background of rampant battles among rival Libyan militias around Tripoli International Airport southern the Libyan capital.
"The embassy staff left Libya early on Saturday against the background of raging clashes around the airport," a Libyan security source said, noting that the U.S. embassy is located in close proximity to the airport and the site of the clashes.
Eyewitnesses said earlier that a missile launched by warring factions fell in the vicinity of the U.S. embassy late on Friday.
Clashes erupted around the airport on Sunday between army-affiliated troops and militias that have been controlling the facility since the downfall of the Muammar Gaddafi regime in 2011.
Libya had earlier closed down its airspace on the background of the clashes around the airport. The northern African country has been suffering turmoil since Gaddafi's downfall in 2011.
By Seif Eddin Tarabolsi
www.aa.com.tr/en
