Forces in Libya's Zintan city claim to have killed two Muammar Gaddafi loyalists and captured another nine.
They described the men as mercenaries hiding a large weapons cache.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IBRAHIM TAHER, ZINTANI FIGHTER, SAYING:
"We have found many machine guns and also made-up machine guns like 14.5 and a machine gun that they call Toushka. And heavy and light weapons with these guys."
General Khalifa Haftar, one of the country's most senior military leaders, said two of his sons had also been targeted by Zintan militias.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic ) KHALIFA HAFTAR, HEAD OF GROUND FORCES OF THE LIBYAN NATIONAL ARMY
"The convoy came under fire and the people who opened fire have been arrested and a group of elders from Zintan visited my office and talked to me and they promised that such an incident won't happen again."
Militias have been trying to consolidate their power bases following the ousting of former leader Gaddafi.
The unrest comes as human rights organizations urge NATO to investigate civilian deaths that occurred during its eight-month military operation.
The government estimates 40,000 Libyans died in the uprising.
Jessica Gray, Reuters