Blast at Libya school wounds six children: hospital, security sources

[February 05, 2014]  BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) — At least six children were wounded when unknown assailants tossed a hand grenade into a school in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, hospital and security sources said on Wednesday.

Witnesses said that the blast damaged part of the building and that some of the victims were seriously wounded.

Blasts and assassinations are not uncommon in Benghazi, where security forces are battling Islamist militants tied to the Ansar al-Sharia group, which Washington has listed as a foreign terrorist organization.

The son of Libya's special forces chief was kidnapped by gunmen in Benghazi a few days ago.

Two and a half years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's army is struggling to control heavily armed former rebels, militias and militants who once fought against Gaddafi's forces.

Militia brigades often fight turf wars for control of areas and businesses, and they have refused to disarm.

(Reporting by Tripoli newsroom)

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