Blast Kills Pro-Haftar Soldier İn Libya's Benghazi

A soldier loyal to former army chief Khalifa Haftar was killed and two others injured on Wednesday by a car-bomb blast in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi, a military official has said.



"An explosives-laden car exploded near a group of soldiers, killing one and injuring two others," the official told Anadolu Agency, adding that the blast had not been a suicide attack.



Since last week, clashes have raged in Benghazi between pro-Haftar forces and Islamist militias, which in recent months have vied for control ofthe volatile city.



Earlier this week, pro-army activists announced the launch of an "armed uprising" against "extremist Islamist groups" in Benghazi.



Earlier this year, Haftar declared war on armed Islamist militias based in eastern Libya, dubbing his campaign "Operation Dignity," the stated aim of which was to "purge" Libya of "extremists."



After serving as army chief-of-staff under Muammar Gaddafi, Haftar spent nearly two decades in the United States in exile before returning to Libya in 2011 to join the uprising against the autocratic ruler.



Libya has been dogged by instability since Gaddafi's 2011 ouster and death, with several militias who helped overthrow the strongman holding onto their weapons.



By Moataz al-Majbari



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Bingazi