Updated: Armed brigade surrounds Tripoli airport

A militia of Libyan ex-rebels seized control of Tripoli International airport this afternoon, surrounding planes with tanks and grounding all flights after their leader's apparent arrest, officials said. "It is total confusion. Everyone is fleeing. Several armoured vehicles and tanks are positioned on the tarmac, blocking traffic," an official at the airport told AFP. "Cars mounted with anti-aircraft guns and armed men are surrounding the aircraft and preventing them from moving," another official said, adding that some passengers were forced to leave planes. The official Lana news agency, citing witnesses, confirmed the "assault" by gunmen who fired into the air and slightly wounded an airport employee, causing panic among travellers. It said the motive of the gunmen was to pressure the government to explain the whereabouts of their leader, Abu Ajila al-Habshi. The attack forced the diversion to Tripoli's Matiga military air base of some flights, including to and from Amman, Istanbul, Rome and Vienna, according to officials and flight monitoring websites. An AFP correspondent at the scene said the situation was calm but tense, with armed men still on the...