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Blast in Libyan rebel stronghold kills at least 17

05 March 2011 01:06 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Hospital officials say an explosion at an ammunition depot in Libya’s rebel stronghold of Benghazi has killed at least 17 people, APA reports quoting â€œAssociated Pressâ€.
Dr. Habib al-Obeidi in Benghazi’s al-Jalaa hospital says Friday’s blast at a military base also hit a nearby residential area. Witnesses on the scene, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from downtown, says ambulances are rushing to the area and secondary explosions caused two fire trucks to blow up.
The cause of the blast is unclear. Al-Obeidi says it apparently was triggered when people went into the storage facility to collect weapons, but others blamed pro-Gadhafi forces for triggering the blast.
The blast comes on a particularly deadly day in Libya, with nearly 30 people killed.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) â€” Hospital officials say an explosion at an ammunition depot near Libya’s rebel stronghold of Benghazi has killed at least nine people and injured 10.
Dr. Habib al-Obeidi says Friday’s blast hit nearby houses and he fears the toll could rise because ambulances are still bringing people to the al-Jalaa hospital.
The cause of the blast is unclear. Al-Obeidi says it apparently was triggered when people went into the storage facility to collect weapons, but others blamed pro-Gadhafi forces for triggering the blast. Witnesses say secondary explosions are continuing and several areas have been set on fire.
The blast comes on a particularly deadly day in Libya, with nearly 30 people killed.