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A monkey pulled off a girl’s headscarf sparking violent clashes that left 16 dead and dozens injured, according to reports.

Tanks, mortars and other heavy weapons were used by the warring tribes during four days of fighting in the Libyan city of Sabha.

The monkey, that belonged to a shopkeeper from the Gaddadfa group, reportedly attacked a crowd of schoolgirls who were passing by.

The animal allegedly pulled off one of the girls' head scarf leading the Awlad Suleiman tribe to retaliate by killing three people as well as the monkey.

A local resident said: "There was an escalation on the second and third days with the use of tanks, mortars and other heavy weapons.

"There are still sporadic clashes and life is completely shut down in the areas where there has been fighting."

(Image: Google Maps)

Like other parts of Libya, Sabha has been periodically plagued by conflict since the uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi five years ago.

In the Sabha region, a hub for migrant and arms smuggling, the conflict has been stoked by militia abuses and the deterioration of living conditions.

The Gaddadfa and the Awlad Suleiman represent the most powerful armed factions in the region.

During the latest clashes initial attempts by tribal leaders to calm the fighting and arrange a ceasefire so that bodies could be recovered had failed.

Sabha Medical Centre had received the bodies of 16 people killed in the clashes and some 50 wounded, a spokesman said.

He added: “There are women and children among the wounded and some foreigners from sub-Saharan African countries among those killed due to indiscriminate shelling.”

The city is about 410 miles south of Tripoli.p