Monkey blamed for starting violent clash between Libyan tribes

  • 22/11/2016
According to locals, the monkey ripped off the girl's headscarf and scratched and bit her (Getty / file)
According to locals, the monkey ripped off the girl's headscarf and scratched and bit her (Getty / file)

A monkey is believed to have sparked violent clashes between two tribes in Libya which killed at least 16 people and injured 50 others.

It all kicked off when several young men released a pet monkey, which targeted a schoolgirl.

According to locals, it ripped off the girl's headscarf and scratched and bit her.

In return members of her family, who are from the Awlad Suleiman tribe, killed the three men, who were from the rival Gaddadfa tribe, along with the animal.

The fighting in Sebha has lasted four days, with a resident telling Reuters that tanks, mortars and other heavy weapons were brought in from the second day.

"There are still sporadic clashes and life is completely shut down in the areas where there has been fighting."

A spokesman from Sabha Medical Centre says women and children, as well as some foreigners from sub-Saharan African countries, were among those wounded and killed due to indiscriminate shelling.

Newshub.