Some 43 people were killed and at least 450 others wounded on Friday in the capital's single bloodiest day since the end of the 2011 conflict, with clashes also breaking out on 16 November.

Libya's interior ministry gave the figures in a press release, details of which were carried by state news agency LANA.

The bulk of the deaths and injuries were thought to have occurred when demonstrators marched on Ghargour, a central district of Tripoli not far from the capital's main business district, to demand that a Misrata-based militia leave the area.

The Misrata group is understood to have occupied parts of the Ghargour area since the liberation of Tripoli in August 2011.

Protesters then came under fire, according to the interior ministry, which claimed that the demonstrators were not carrying weapons.

It said the Attorney General's office had been given the responsiblity for investigating the "murders".

The US, UK and European Union have all issued statements condemning the violence, while prime minister Ali Zeidan urged all sides to exercise "maximum restraint."

On 16 November other clashes broke out in the eastern suburb of Tajura, with media reports claiming that more armed men from Misrata had attempted to enter the city before being stopped by local checkpoints.

It said one person had been killed and others wounded.

Many main roads in the city continued to be blocked, with traffic far quieter than normal.

LANA carried a statement saying that the Ghargour area had now been "secured" by the "Central Libya Shield" militia, and would be considered a "military zone" until it was handed over to "state institutions".