At least 23 people have been killed and dozens injured in clashes between militias backed by Libya’s rival government.

Saturday’s fighting in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, was said to be the worst in two years, sparking fears that the country could be plunged into full-scale war.

Emergency services spokesman Malek Merset said that they were trying to evacuate injured civilians caught up in the fighting. The Ministry of Health said that more than 140 people were injured and more than 64 families had to be evacuated from areas around the fighting.

The struggle for power in Libya has pitted the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah , against a rival administration led by Fathi Basagha, backed by the eastern-based parliament.
GNU accused Bashagha of backing out of talks to resolve the crisis.Meanwhile,Bashagha, backed by Libya’s parliament and eastern-based military strongman Khalifa Haftar, said that the GNU’s mandate had expired.