ACCRA, Ghana - The recent violent clashes between Libyans and nationals of other African countries at the Gregarish area in Libya were caused by disagreements between Nigerian and Libyan drug gangs.

This was confirmed at a meeting in Tripoli between diplomats of countries whose citizens were affected and the Libyan authorities to assess the extent of damage.

A source close to the meeting told the Ghana News Agency Friday that the disagreement heightened when the Nigerians out-manoeuvred their Libyan counterparts in a drug deal in the Gregarish area, noted for drug trafficking and illegal sale of alcohol.

The source said that although Ghanaians were only caught in the crossfire, they could not be totally exonerated as some of them are also involved in such businesses.

Reports said 42 Ghanaians had been arrested in the Tripoli area alone over the last three months for offences ranging from sale of alcohol to prostitution.

The Ghana Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday that about 1,500 Ghanaians fled their homes as a result of the clashes, which also involved nationals of Nigeria, Niger and Chad.

Ministry officials said the number of Africans ejected from their houses during the riots and evacuated to a security camp, had been swollen by those, who on their own, fled to the camp for fear of attacks.

This, they added, had complicated plans to resettle them. They warned that this could also lead to an outbreak of epidemic.

The reports further indicated that although the riots seem to have subsided in Tripoli, sporadic attacks in the outskirts continue to occur.

About a week ago, a Ghanaian was reportedly beaten and robbed in the suburbs, while 15 others were among some 300 Nigerians and Chadians who were driven out of their homes in El-Zawia, about 45 km from Tripoli.

In its statement, the foreign ministry said a multi- sectoral team was being dispatched to Tripoli to carry out on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

It said Vice President Professor John Evans Atta Mills has directed the evacuation of those affected, especially women, children, and the injured.