Suicide attack at Libya's Electoral Commission HQ kills 13

A suicide bomb and gun attack killed 13 people and wounded several others at the headquarters of Libya's Electoral Commission in the capital on Wednesday, officials said.

Witnesses told Efe news that one suicide bombing took place during an attempt by an armed group to attack the building. A large plume of smoke was visible in the city centre.

"The security guards who were at the entrance started a shootout with the assailants that lasted several minutes and there was a loud explosion in the middle of the attack," a witness said.

The headquarters was evacuated while security forces pursued the attackers through the streets, Electoral Commission spokesperson Khaled Omar said. There were no details available on the fate of the assailants.

The attack came two days after the international community gave its support to Libya's electoral process by sending UN special envoy Ghassan Salame to the North African country.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack, the first of its kind in months to target Tripoli.

--IANS

soni/bg