Libya: Rival militias contest territory

 Only 10 miles west of the capital Tripoli, rival militias have clashed. One local official was killed. The central government is still in the process of trying to gain control of the many militia groups who fought to overthrow Gadaffi.
   The official killed was deputy head of the local military council in Janzour. His vehicle stopped briefly at a local checkpoint manned by fighters from Zintan a town in the nearby mountains who were very active in the fight against Gadaffi. The official told those at the checkpoint who he was but the guards said they did not care. When the official simply ordered his driver to continue he was shot.
  Later Janzour residents took revenge by ransacking the headquarters of the Zintan militia in the town. They also destroyed vehicles inside the compound. The Zintan militia members apparently fled. The residents want the Zintan militia out of their town.
    The UN has noted that the militias are a challenge still facing the government the National Transitional Council. No doubt militias hope to gain influence for their areas in the new government. There have been several conflict among different militia groups in the two months since Gadaffi was killed. For more see this article.