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Pipeline under bomb attack near Libya's al-Sarir oilfield

Xinhua, February 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

A part of oil pipeline from Libya's al-Sarir oilfield exploded after a bomb attack on Saturday, suspending the crude supply to the eastern seaport of Hariga, according to a spokesman for Libya's National Oil Company (NOC).

The bomb exploded in the early hours of Saturday, hitting the pipeline several kilometers north of the al-Sarir oilfield, the spokesman for the state-run NOC said.

He added that the firefighters are attempting to put out the fire and it could take days to resume operation.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

It was suspected that militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) might be the mastermind of the sabotage. Some analysts also said the pipeline was might be damaged by Libya's warring factions.

Libya is now deadlocked in a dogfight between the pro-secular army and Islamist militants. The turmoil makes an ideal hotbed and recruiting ground for terrorism.

Also on Saturday, the IS loyalists were attacking Bahi and Dahra oil fields near Libya's western city of Sirte. Endit