TRIPOLI, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) on Saturday warned of an environmental disaster after clashes in its eastern Libya's oil crescent region.
The clashes caused damage to an oil tank in Ras Lanuf port, said NOC in a statement, without revealing details about its negative impact on the environment.
It called for the "unconditional and immediate withdrawal of the militia operating under Ibrahim Jathran to prevent an environmental disaster and further destruction of key infrastructure."
Jathran is a wanted former chief of the oil installation guards service.
NOC also warned that further damage to oil installations could have a huge impact on the Libyan oil sector and national economy.
"NOC also calls on all parties not to use the oil sector, NOC and associated petroleum facilities in a political game and to remove them from all possible conflict. Any act that endangers life and sheds Libyan blood should be condemned by all," the statement said.
Benghazi Defense Brigades, which is allied with Jathran, on Thursday launched an attack on the Libyan oil crescent region and clashed with the army forces there.
The clashes killed 34 people from both sides, a military source said.
NOC evacuated all employees from the area. It was estimated that the attack caused losses of 240,000 barrels of oil.
The oil crescent region is located some 500 km east of the capital Tripoli. It contains the country's largest oil ports.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya condemned the attack, warning that "this dangerous escalation puts Libya's economy in jeopardy and risks igniting a widespread confrontation."