Death toll from violence in Libya’s Tripoli climbs to over 40

More than 40 people have been killed and over 400 other injured in two days of deadly clashes between protesters and militiamen across the Libyan capital city of Tripoli.

On Saturday, fresh clashes erupted in the eastern suburb of the Libyan capital as the death toll from Friday violence continue to rise.

The deadly violence began after militiamen opened fire on a large group of protesters who had marched to the headquarters of the Misrata militia.

Some reports say hours after the incident, armed men returned to storm the compound, where militiamen are holed up.

Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has called for a ceasefire and urged all the militias to leave Tripoli.

Nearly two years after the fall of former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, in a popular revolution, Libya is still plagued by lawlessness and insecurity, with armed groups flexing their muscles.

Over the past few months, the capital city of Tripoli and its suburbs have been also hit by violent clashes between rival militias who participated in the 2011 uprising.

Residents of Tripoli frequently demonstrate against militias — holdovers from the 2011 revolution that ousted Gaddafi.

A powerful force in the increasingly lawless North African country, the militias have been rejecting calls from a weak central government to leave the capital.

The former rebels refuse to lay down their arms, despite efforts by the central government to impose law and order.

Many countries have closed their consulates in Libyan cities and some foreign airlines have stopped flying there.