12 Die as Rival Anti-Gadhafi Fighters Turn on Each Other

At least 12 people were killed and 16 wounded when two groups of fighters opposed to Moammar Gadhafi turned on each other in Libya's west, two officials said on Sunday.

The fighting, which has its roots in ancient rivalries and pitted combatants from the towns of Gharyan and Kikla on the one side and from Asabah on the other, broke out on Saturday, according to the chief of the Gharyan council and confirmed by the head of the military council of Asabah.

The towns are on the eastern edge of the Nafusa mountains and were important centers of resistance to Gadhafi’s forces in months of fighting to oust the strongman.

"Twelve people were killed and 16 others were wounded during the fighting which erupted when a brigade from Gharyan and Kikla came under fire at the town of Asabah," said Gharyan council head Wahid Barshan.

He added that the brigade had been ambushed "after demanding the return of their heavy weapons" left behind during fighting against Gadhafi’s forces.

The toll and the version of events was confirmed by the chairman of the Asabah military council, Saad al-Shartaa.

Traditionally, many people in Asabah were Gadhafi supporters, and according to the two officials, 20 of his fighters were captured during Saturday's fighting.

Shartaa said efforts had been made "to contain the situation" and that Libya's new ruling National Transitional Council had intervened in a bid to calm passions.

He said the origin of the feuding lies in the fact that Asabah is the hometown of Gadhafi’s one-time right-hand man, Ahmed Ramadan.