Protests in Libya’s capital cause fuel crisis

Tripoli, Libya: The Libyan government has blamed a fuel crisis in the country’s capital on protests that have blocked the roads to the main western oil terminal, leaving gas stations without new supplies.

On Friday, protesters used piles of sand to block all roads to the Zawiya port, demanding early parliamentary and presidential elections, and increased security in the country’s restive east. The government condemned the protesters’ actions as “unacceptable” and said that oil tankers were in Zawiya port ready to be unloaded.

Zawiya port is the main source of refined gasoline for Tripoli and western Libya. The oil-rich country must export crude oil and import gasoline from abroad.

Such unrest is common in Libya since the 2011 civil war that toppled longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi.