How Libyan reality could pave way for more extremism | Jason Burke

Economic and political chaos left in wake of Gaddafi's fall provide ideal opportunity for militant groups to gain traction

The visit of Peter Millett, the British ambassador to Tripoli, was eventful. From early Friday morning, parts of the capital had echoed to exchanges of gunfire between two of the armed factions fighting for control of the city. At around 10am, Millett took to Twitter to report hearing "explosions and artillery fire".

The ambassador's inadvertent venture into frontline reporting underlined the gulf between today's reality and the hopes for Libya in 2011 when Colonel Muammar Gaddafi - who had ruled since 1969 - was ousted by rebels with the support of Nato airpower.