Power shifts,this Libyan town finds itself in crosshairs

More than a month ago,as Gaddafi forces retreated from their town,virtually all of Tawergas 30,000 residents,fearing their neighbors wrath,fled. Since then,some Misuratans have made a mission of revenge,burning or looting shops and homes. As Tawergans have sought safety in other cities,they say Misuratas fighters are stalking them and rounding up their men.

Race has made this fight especially toxic: Tawergans say Misurata has ignored betrayals by its other neighbors,singling out Tawerga because most of the residents are black. Fighters say race had nothing to do with it. The Tawergans crimes were unforgivable,they said.

The Tawergans are looking for safety elsewhere and finding little. Two weeks ago,85 Tawergan men were rounded up in Tripoli by fighters from Misurata,and have not been heard from since,their relatives say. KAREEM FAHIM