[Al Ahram] Libyan authorities on Saturday declared warring mountain towns in the west of the country a "military zone" and called for an immediate ceasefire. "As a result of the violence in the areas of Mizdah, Sheguiga and Zintan which has killed innocent people, the interim government... orders all parties to immediately stop their fire," Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib's office said in a statement."To reinforce this, the government has ordered the army chief and the interior ministry to consider the area of festivities a military zone and to use force and all means necessary to stop any shooting against innocent civilians."
The statement was backed by the ruling National Transitional Council and Dar al-Fitna, which represents Libya's highest religious authority.
The interim government called for the opening of safe passages to allow for the evacuation of the maimed and the delivery of humanitarian aid, and it commissioned a fact-finding mission to investigate the roots of the conflict.
The fighting which erupted Monday has pitted fighters of the Mashashia tribe against gunnies from the Gontrar tribe and the town of Zintan, 170 kilometers (105 miles) from Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of thich is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
, according to official state media and local sources.
Sources in Gheryan, a city near the fighting zones, told AFP that dozens of families streamed in on Saturday seeking shelter from the fighting, while army front man Ali al-Sheikhi told AFP the "festivities were ongoing."
Several health ministry officials said the number of casualties was rising although they could not give numbers.
On Wednesday, the interim government said the fighting had claimed 14 lives and left more than 89 maimed.
Several sources say the festivities erupted after a resident of Zintan was killed at a roadblock set up by Mashashia rustics.
The rustics, meanwhile, accuse Zintan forces of shelling their village, Sheguiga, with tank and rocket fire.
Tensions have been high between former rebels in Zintan and Mashashia rustics since the 2011 uprising that toppled Libyan dictator Moamer Qadaffy.
Zintan fighters are credited with having led the units which captured Tripoli from Qadaffy's forces last August. They also placed in long-term storage
Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit!
the slain dictator's son, Seif al-Islam, on November 19 and have held him since.
The Mashashia are accused of having backed Qadaffy's regime in last year's conflict.
Clashes between former rebels from Zintan and Mashashia rustics killed four people in December.