Death toll from south Libya tribal clashes hits 86

Tripoli: An official at a hospital in southern Libya says two weeks of fighting between tribes, government soldiers and former loyalists of Moammar Gadhafi has killed at least 86 people.

Abdullah Wahida, the head of Sabha Hospital in the southern city, gave the casualty figure to The Associated Press on Thursday. He said at least 128 people have been wounded in violence that saw the hospital shelled.

The clashes in Sabha, one of Gadhafi`s traditional strongholds, were sparked by a revenge attack by
African-origin Tabu tribesmen against a militia commander of the Arab Awlad Sulieman tribe.

Officials say that Gadhafi loyalists also seized a local military base, sparking another battle.