Libya's UN-backed gov't accuses eastern-based army of killing dozens in Tarhuna

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TRIPOLI, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The UN-backed government of Libya on Sunday accused the rival eastern-based army of killing dozens in the city of Tarhuna, some 90 km south of the capital Tripoli.

"The Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord condemns in the strongest terms the series of heinous crimes against the people of Tarhuna by gangs of the so-called Dignity Operation (conducted by the eastern-based army), who liquidated dozens today at dawn in several locations of the city," the UN-backed government said in a statement.

The statement demanded the international community and the United Nations Security Council to "take a firm stance and immediately work on stopping such violations."

The UN-backed government has been engaged in a deadly armed conflict in and around Tripoli since early April against the eastern-based army, which is trying to take over the city and overthrow the UN-backed government.

The air force of the UN-backed government a few days ago launched an airstrike on the city of Tarhuna, which is controlled by the eastern-based army, and killed three senior commanders of the army.

Shortly following the airstrike, local media reported that the eastern-based army forces pursued and killed a number of supporters of the UN-backed government in retaliation to the killing of the three commanders.

The eastern-based army, led by Khalifa Haftar, is allied with the eastern-based government, as the North African nation is politically divided between eastern and western governments.

Libya has been suffering escalating violence and political instability ever since the fall of the former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Enditem

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