ONE of Libya’s rival prime ministers warned today that his government would not tolerate any further militia fighting, days after the year’s bloodiest bout of clashes rocked the capital.

At least 45 people died in Tripoli on Monday after violence broke out between militiamen from the 444 brigade and its rival, the Special Deterrence Force.

The warning from Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who heads the Tripoli-based government, came as Mr Hamza was released and returned to his militia’s headquarters.

“We are used to the sound of clashes, but (coming near) civilians is forbidden,” Mr Dbeibah said in a televised speech accompanied by tribal elders from eastern Tripoli, a district where both militias have a strong presence.

During his 45-minute speech, he also threatened to introduce “other measures” against the two militia groups if the fighting escalated but provided no further detail.

On Wednesday, the Tripoli-based Interior Ministry said that it has upped the presence of security forces in the capital’s neighbourhoods that witnessed the most intense fighting.

Since 2014, Libya has been divided between two rival administrations, one in Tripoli and one operating in Sirte, each supported by an array of well-armed militias and different foreign governments.