Wild animals that were being kept in the Tripoli Zoo, at the Libyan Capital have been killed in the ongoing clashes.
Tripoli Zoo and Botanical gardens located in the heavily targeted Bu Salim district, suffered severe impact during recent militia clashes between forces from Misrata and Tripoli.
Over 100 people were killed in just two nights, and many animals in the zoo also perished with the few remaining species suffering injuries, harm and trauma amid the fighting.
The violence has drawn public anger over the suffering of both civilians and innocent wildlife.
Dead bodies of Lions, Gazelles, Baboons have been seen scattered across the Tripoli Zoo after being shelled by bullets as insurgents attacked the animal sanctuary.
Tripoli Zoo and Gardens has been one of the top attractions in Tripoli, Libya.
Located in the heart of the city, this meticulously maintained zoo used to provide visitors with a unique opportunity to explore a diverse range of wildlife and lush gardens.
On the other hand, Tripoli’s famous Arch of Marcus Aurelius, one of the city’s oldest Roman landmark structures, has been shelled by bullets but narrowly escaped damage during the ongoing fighting in the capital.
The fact that fighting took place very close to the site, with some bullets shelling the walls, the development raised fears that the ancient arch could be harmed.
In another development, Libya’s Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh of the western region government, has dismissed Osama Najim, a move which was praised by international organizations.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan praised the decision.
Najim, is alleged to be a senior figure linked to the Al Rada armed group, the same group which was involved in fierce clashes against Dbeibeh’s allied forces, mainly made up of militias from Misrata.
Reports have that the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency has also frozen Najim’s assets, which are estimated at 12 million pounds.
The International Criminal Court is also demanding Najim’s extradition to face trial, with the ICC calling upon Libya’s Attorney General, Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, to arrest the suspect immediately.
Osama Najim, a man from just one militia group, was found to have £12 million in the UK alone.
Osama Najim – also known as Almasri – is the director of an infamous detention center in Mitiga, near Tripoli, which Amnesty International says is the scene of “horrific violations committed with total impunity”.
A group of nine member states of the United Nations Security Council issued a joint statement calling for the immediate arrest and surrender of Osama Najim, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over serious allegations related to abuses at Mitiga Prison in Tripoli, Libya.
The statement—signed by Denmark, France, Greece, Ghana, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom—emphasized that all states must comply with their obligations under the Rome Statute, including the arrest and transfer of individuals subject to ICC warrants.