CAIRO -- More than 90 people have been killed in weeks of fighting between Libyan militias in the city of Sabratha in a conflict that erupted in part as an unexpected consequence of Europe's efforts to halt migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

Thousands have fled the city, according to the Red Crescent and local officials. Fighting has also taken place inside Sabratha's landmark antiquity site, the 1,800-year-old remains of a Roman city. The death toll of at least 93 includes at least eight civilians, says Essam Karrar, the head of Sabratha Civil Society Federation

The fight broke out in mid-September. Italy has funded two militias in Sabratha to halt boatloads of migrants, which succeeded in dramatically reducing the flow but also sparked a backlash from rival militias, local officials say.