Italy pledges assistance to Libya to help extinguish blazing fuel depots

Italy has offered to help extinguish a huge blaze that has engulfed the biggest fuel depot in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

Italy said it would send aircraft and a team of experts to contain the blaze which has hit two tanks.

Libyan officials blame clashes between rival militias for starting the fire, described as "out of control".

Many residents of Tripoli are staying indoors, amid fears that the violence is spiralling out of control.

At least 97 people have been killed in fighting between rival militias battling for control of Tripoli's main airport in the past week.

The depot is about 10kilometers from Tripoli on the road to the international airport.

People are angry, scared and mostly in disbelief at the recklessness of the militias and disregard for the potential wide-scale damage the fighting is causing.

BBC