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Flights to Mitiga airport in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, have been suspended after clashes between rival armed groups.

Heavy gunfire could be heard from the centre of the capital and Mitiga airport said all flights had been suspended until further notice.

The fighting is between the Special Deterrence Force (Rada), one of the most powerful groups in the city, against a rival group based in Tripoli’s Tajoura neighbourhood.

Rada acts as an anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit and controls Mitiga airport and a large prison next to it.

It is occasionally targeted by rivals whose members it has arrested.