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Roundup: 45 killed in car bombing by IS in eastern Libya

Xinhua, February 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Death toll from three car bombs exploded simultaneously on Friday in the eastern Libyan city of Al-Gubba has risen to 45, according to security sources.

The simultaneous blasts targeted a local security building, a gas station, and residence of Akila Saleh Issa, a parliament leader, killing at least 45 people, the sources said.

Five Egyptians are among killed, while the number of injured is now estimated to be in excess of 80, the source added.

The parliament speaker has been confirmed to have survived the blast as he was not at his residence when the bombs went off.

The Libyan branch of the Islamic State (IS) on Friday claimed responsibility by Twitter account for two car bombs near the local security building and residence of Akila Saleh Issa.

However, the account did not mention the third blast in the fuel station, where most of the victims were civilians.

The Twitter account also posted photographs of the attackers, as well as the time of the explosions.

The city of Al-Gubba, 30 km west of Derna, is under control of the Libyan army and forces loyal to Major General Khalifa Haftar.

The Libyan army and forces of General Haftar, along with armed civilian supporters, besiege the city of Derna, a stronghold of IS loyal militants.

These explosions came a few days after joint airstrikes by Libyan and Egyptian air force against militants' sites.

The air strikes were done after an online video was posted, showing Islamic State militants beheading 21 Egyptian Christian hostages in the city of Sirte.

Libya, a major oil producer in North Africa, has been witnessing a frayed political process after its former leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled during the 2011 political turmoil.

The country is now juggling between two rival parliaments and governments. Endit