Heavy clashes broke out between two armed groups in the western city of Zawia on Saturday night and continued until the morning of Sunday.

The majority of the Russian sailors seized from their cargo ship off the Libyan city of Zawia last month have been released, Russia’s deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov confirmed this week.

The Ras Ajdair border crossing between Libya and Tunisia is still open from both sides with normal travelling movement, according to officials working at the border from both countries.

Libyan Coast Guard, Zawiya Squad, intercepted on Sunday a Russian vessel in the territorial waters off the country’s western coast.

22 migrants have been killed and some 100 injured in fighting between rival smuggler gangs in Libya so far this year. This comes at a time when seaborne migration from Africa to Italy has risen by 50 percent so far in 2017.

Libyan Navy patrols, working in Al-Zawiya Oil Refinery, said they had intercepted two boats off Sabratha shores on Sunday and rescued 700 illegal immigrants onboard.

Anger in Libya over an agreement last Sunday between Libyan and Tunisian municipalities on either side of the border that is said to give Tunisian traders a significant financial advantage over Libyans is growing.

Acacus Oil Firm, which is operating Al-Sharara oilfield in southwestern Libya, confirmed that oil production at Al-Sharara oilfield is being pursued increasingly since Wednesday morning after the reopening of the pipelines that connect the oilfield to Al-Zawiya refinery.

There are confused reports that IS terrorists have seized a remote pumping station on the Man-Made River, taking hostages and sacking the place before withdrawing.

A mayor for Sirte is to be elected on 12 December. The date has been chosen by the Central Committee for Municipal Council Elections (CCMCE) following the crushing of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in the town.