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| Africa North |
| 19 soldiers killed, oil tank hit in Libya |
| 2014-12-27 |
| TRIPOLI: Nineteen Libyan soldiers were killed in clashes with radical fighters on Thursday east of the country, officials said. A military source said the soldiers were killed in attacks launched by the Fajr Libya movement in Sirte. The Al-Sidra and its adjacent Ras Lanuf terminal have been closed since a force allied to a rival government in Tripoli moved east trying to take them. Meanwhile, a rocket hit a storage tank in the oil port as armed factions allied to competing governments fought for control of the country’s biggest export terminal. “A tank was hit but the damage is limited,” said an official from a security service allied to the internationally recognized government, now operating from eastern Libya. He said there were heavy clashes in the Ben Jawad area west of Al-Sidra where he said some of the rival forces were based. He accused opponents of having shot at the port from boats which they had tried to dock at Al-Sidra. “The air force destroyed three boats which were attempting to seize the port,” he said. Ismail Al-Shukri, spokesman for the rival force, denied this, saying warplanes belonging to the other side had bombed the port. “Our forces are progressing from all directions toward Es Sider port,” he said. An Oil Ministry official said the tank was still on fire. Smoke could be seen on pictures posted on social media websites and described as showing the port. |
| Posted by:Steve White |