Renewed Battle for Libyan Airport Kills 4

FILE - In this image made from video by The Associated Press, smoke rises from the direction of Tripoli airport in Tripoli, Libya, July 13, 2014.

Heavy fighting around Libya's largest airport killed at least four people Sunday amid a grim resurgence of violence in the country as rival militias enter a second week of deadly clashes.

The renewed battle between the Zintan militia, which controls Tripoli International Airport, and armed Islamist fighters comes two days after attempts at a cease-fire between the groups collapsed.

Witnesses said fighting on Sunday spilled into residential neighborhoods around the airport, where a standoff began one week ago, paralyzing flights into and out of the capital.

Thousands of people have fled their homes in the area, as the armed groups exchanged fire from guns, anti-aircraft cannons and rockets.

At least six people were killed and 25 injured in last week's clashes.

The Egyptian military said that on Saturday militants attacked a checkpoint on Egypt's border with Libya, killing at least 21 soldiers.

Libya has been in turmoil as government and parliament have not been able to control militias who in 2011 helped oust longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, but now defy state authority.

The militias involved in the airport conflict are loosely aligned with the liberal and Islamist political factions vying for control of Libya's parliament, the National General Congress.

Results of voting for the legislature were to be announced Sunday, but have been postponed until Monday.

The airport clashes and ongoing violence in the eastern city of Benghazi triggered the United Nations to temporarily withdraw its staff from Libya last week.