Tripoli, Nov 16 (IANS)

 A group of militiamen Friday opened fire on hundreds of demonstrators here, who demanded the former to leave their headquarters in southern Tripoli, killing at least eight people and wounding 40 others, a ministry source said.

"We have received dozens of emergency cases at Abu Salim hospital and Tripoli Medical Centre in Tripoli, and according to preliminary information, eight people have been killed and 40 others wounded," Xinhua reported quoting a health ministry source as saying.

Last Thursday, fierce clashes erupted between various militia groups in central Tripoli, killing two people and injuring many others. Anti-militia protesters then called for a general strike against the presence of militias and launched a civil disobedience campaign until the armed men leave.

Earlier Friday, hundreds of people gathered in front of the Al Quds Mosque in downtown Tripoli to urge the armed groups to move out of the capital. 

The protesters, who latter headed to the southwest of Tripoli, where the military base of a militia group from the western city of Misrata situated, encountered with some militiamen who opened fire with RPGs and heavy machine guns.

Two years after the 2011 uprising, the Libyan authorities are still struggling to rein in tens of armed militia groups roaming the country. Murders and kidnappings of security officers as well as political activities are registered on daily basis, leaving a number of people dead.