By Ulf Laessing
(Reuters) - First, there is a single shot.Then Libyan fighters empty their anti-aircraft guns as otherscrouch for cover at Tripoli International Airport.
Until Saturday night, the airport was a hub for Libyanscoming home for the Muslim fasting month and expatriates goingon vacation. Now, Libya's main airport has turned into abattlefield between rival militias, a sign of anarchy in the oilproducer.
The weak government with its almost non-existent army isappealing for calm but fighters on both sides show no signs ofabating in the worst militia clashes in the capital Tripolisince November.
Militiamen from the northwestern region of Zintan are readyto defend the airport that they have protected in the absence ofstate forces since helping to take Tripoli in August 2011 whenMuammar Gaddafi's regime fell.
"The other side has unfortunately decided to use thelanguage of gun," said Mohammed Ramadan, head of the towncouncil of Zintan, which makes up the bulk of fighters.
The other side, accused by the government of attacking theairport area on Sunday, is made up of militias mainly from thecoastal city of Misrata, rivals of the Zintanis. Divisions alongregional and tribal lines still split the North African country.
The rival militias both claim to work for the sake ofstability and accuse each other of abandoning the ideals of therevolution ending Gaddafi's dictatorship.
During the NATO-backed uprising, both set aside theirdifferences but now they are vying for control of Tripoli. Theairport 30 km (19 miles) to the south of the capital is thebiggest trophy.
Tank ammunition is stapled in rows next to pickup truckswith mounted machine guns or mortars, while a Russian-made tankdrives around the terminal with its turret swinging around.
With shooting even continuing during Ramadan fast-breakingat sunset, fighters take turns resting inside theair-conditioned terminal. They sit on chairs and luggagetrolleys next to check-in counters, while fellow men fire theirguns at the frontline, around one kilometer at the airport'sother end.
DAMAGES
The government has said 90 percent of the airport and planesparked there have been damaged but an assessment is impossibleas long as bullets fly around. One hit a flag pole next to theterminal while a Reuters multimedia team was filming. Thetransport minister had to abandon a tour late on Monday afterthe airport perimeter got shelled with Grad rockets.
A Reuters reporter saw around six damaged planes - left byLibyan carriers in front of the terminal late on Saturday. Oneaircraft is totally burned out. Others show huge holes in thewings or body from anti-aircraft volleys. The control tower alsotook a hit but the lift still works.
Busses parked on the runway were also untouched but shroudedin smoke from burning grass near the runway where rocketslanded.
"Some equipment at the control tower will have to bereplaced and imported from abroad," said Ramadan, sitting on abench behind the sales counters of European airlines Lufthansaand Alitalia. Other fighters sit on chairs next to a cafe and aluggage shop with its goods untouched.
"The runway took hits from rockets. A maintenance firm willhave to fix repair it," he said. A soldier said: "The terminalis unharmed but the custom control hall got hit."
Outside fighters - wearing army uniforms or jeans and whiteshirts - relax in front of the terminal while others shout"Allah Akbar" (God is great) when anti-aircraft guns roarnearby.
For the night, mattresses are laid out next to boxes full ofammunition and dates for fast-breaking. "There is no chance,"said Ramadan, when asked about success chances by governmentmediators to halt fighting. "The other side has rejected it." (Reporting by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
