Violent skirmish in Libyan capital Tripoli overnight and continued today as the rival political forces exchanged gunfire and several powerful explosions rang through the city.

The clashes took place in downtown Tripoli when one of the capital’s most powerful factions launched an attack on a rival force’s base, sparking hours of firefights that frightened residents and raised fears of a wider escalation, according to eyewitnesses.

The Government of National Unity in Tripoli and a rival parliament-backed administration in the eastern part of the country have exchanged accusations of clashes as fears of a wider conflict grow.

Any clashes between Tripoli’s powerful factions risk involving other factions, and today’s firefight has lasted longer than any other outbreak of violence in the city in recent months.

The UN mission in the country warned this week of any attempt to resolve the dispute through violence.

Military forces supporting each side of the political conflict in Libya have repeatedly mobilized around Tripoli in recent weeks, with convoys of military vehicles driving around the city and threatening to use violence to achieve their goals.