13 soldiers killed as militants strike Benghazi, Libya

BENGHAZI, Libya, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Attacks by militant groups killed at least 13 Libyan soldiers in Benghazi, an army spokesman said.

"Most of the soldiers were killed by landmines planted by terrorist organizations," spokesman Miloud al-Zawi said.

The casualties came Tuesday in different parts of the eastern Libyan city, the Iranian press agency Press TV reported. The Libyan army was attempting to contain an assortment of militias roaming the streets.

Although it has an internationally recognized government in Bayda and Tobruk, and a rival government operated by the Libya Dawn coalition of militias in the capital of Tripoli, the country is essentially lawless, with armed groups and regional factions working to control parts of the country.

Al-Zawi did not identify which militias were involved in Tuesday's violence in Benghazi.

Earlier this week two employees of the Serbian embassy were abducted in Sabratha, Libya, while a convoy, including the Serbian ambassador, was traveling to a conference in Tunisia. The Serbian government in Belgrade reported no group has come forward to claim responsibility or demand a ransom.