Reports: Blast, clashes in Libya kill at least 20 people

Beirut (dpa) - An explosion Tuesday at an ammunition depot followed by clashes in a town east of Tripoli killed at least 20 people, local news outlets reported. The website of al-Anbaa TV channel reported that at least 20 others were wounded in the blast. It quoted a member of the local council in the town of Garabulli, al-Sadek Bou Ghlimeh, as saying that the blast took place after a clash erupted between residents of the area and gunmen. The reason behind what triggered the clashes was not immediately known.Al-wasat news portal reported that the violence started late Monday in Garabulli, 60 kilometres east of Tripoli, between outlawed armed men and the residents of the area and developed into armed clashes and acts of violence a day later. The newspaper Libya Herald said at its website that the clashes resulted in the blocking of the a main road in Garabulli. Travellers on the road were warned on social media not to approach the area, according to newspaper.Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 revolt that toppled long-time dictator Moamer Gaddafi.The Islamic State extremist militia has taken advantage of the chaos to seize territory along the sparsely populated central coast.Last month pro-government forces mainly from the western city of Misrata began an onslaught to drive Islamic State from Sirte, which the radical group captured last year.