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Libya's two biggest oil ports were not damaged during clashes: workers
General view of the industrial zone at the oil port of Ras Lanuf, March 11, 2014. PHOTO BY REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
By Ayman al-Warfalli
20/12/2014
ES SIDER, Libya (Reuters) - Libya's two biggest oil export ports, Ras Lanuf and Es Sider, have not been damaged during recent clashes between forces allied to the country's competing governments, port engineers said on Friday.
Last Saturday a force allied to the rival assembly based in Tripoli, the General National Congress (GNC), moved to the east to try seize both ports. Both terminals have closed, drying exports of an estimated 300,000 barrels a day of oil.
The recognised government of Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni, forced to work out of the east since losing control of Tripoli in August, has launched air strikes throughout the week to stop the advance.
"The port facilities were not damaged. Everything is fine," port engineers told a Reuters reporter visiting both terminals. He could see no damage at the berth and tanks and there was no sign of fighting on Friday.
Commanders of a force loyal to the recognised government said both terminals were under their control. They said the rival force was based some 25 km to the west of Es Sider.
The reporter could see some damaged vehicles which officers said belonged to the rival force near the port. He saw vehicles parked on a small airport in Ras Lanuf used by Thinni's forces to attack the rival forces.
The fighting is part of a wider struggle over control of the North African country which sits on Africa's largest oil reserves. Former rebel groups which helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in a 2011 NATO-backed uprising now fight each other.
The fighting has hampered U.N.-sponsored talks to end the conflict which had been meant to start early last week. The U.N. said on Wednesday venue and date were still unclear.
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