UN: Car bomb kills 3 UN staff outside mall in Libya

A bomb-len vehicle exploded on August 10 outside a shopping mall in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi, killing at least three U.N. staff members, a spokesman for United Nations secretary-general said. attack came even as country’s warring sides said y accepted a cease-fire proposed by U.N. aimed at halting combat in capital Tripoli during an upcoming Muslim holiday.

Health officials said blast took place outside Arkan Mall in Hawari neighborhood, where people were garing for shopping a day before Eid al-ha holiday begins. Benghazi municipal council said attack targeted a convoy for U.N. Support Mission in Libya.

site of attack is close to offices of mission in Libya. Two of de hailed from Libya and Fuji, and blast wounded nine people, according to health officials who spoke on condition of anymity because y were t authorized to brief reporters.

Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, said in a statement that three U.N. workers were among wounded.

“ Secretary-General extends his deepest condolences to bereaved families and wishes a swift recovery to all injured. He calls on Libyan authorities to spare effort in identifying and swiftly bringing to justice perpetrators of this attack,” Dujarric said.

He also said secretary-general urged “all parties to respect humanitarian truce during Eid al ha and return to negotiating table to pursue peaceful future people of Libya deserve.”

U.N. special envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salame, condemned what he called a “cowardly attack.”

“This attack will t discour us, r will it prevent us from carrying on with our duties to bring about peace, stability and prosperity to Libya and its people,” he said in a statement.

Salame said commitment of parties of U.N.-proposed cease-fire in Tripoli “sends an irrevocable mess that blood of Libyans, and UN staff, ... was t shed in vain in this heius explosion.”

U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting late Saturday afteron on situation.

Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Bintou Keita told members attack took place in an area “supposedly under full security control” of Libyan National Army of Gen. Khalifa Hifter.

She said attack “highlights continued danger of terrorism across country,” and it confirms that latest hostilities are creating a vacuum “easily exploited by rical elements that strive on chaos and violence.”

RE | Taliban Claim Suicide Car Bombing In West Kabul, Dozens Hurt

Keita said U.N. doesn’t intend to evacuate from Libya and she expressed hope that both sides will abide by ir commitment to Eid cease-fire.

Foot circulated online shows what appears to be burnt U.N.-owned vehicles as thick smoke bellows into sky.

group immediately claimed responsibility for attack, which came just a month after two bomb-len vehicles went off in Benghazi, stronghold for self-styled LNA. July attack killed at least four people and wounded 33 ors.

If it takes place, upcoming cease-fire would be first since LNA launched a surprise military offensive on April 4 aimed at capturing Tripoli, ushering in fierce battles with militias loosely allied with a U.N.-supported but weak ministration in capital.

battle for Tripoli has killed over 1,100 people, mostly combatants, and has displaced more than 100,000 civilians. Thousands of African migrants captured by Libyan forces supported by European Union are trapped in detention centers.

In recent weeks, battle lines have changed little, with both sides dug in and shelling one ar in sourn reaches of capital. Fighters have also resorted heavily to airstrikes and attacks by drones. An airstrike on one facility early last month killed more than 50 people — many of whom were migrants who died when a hangar collapsed on top of m.

Libya slid into chaos after 2011 uprising that toppled and killed long-ruling dictator Moammar Ghafi. Armed groups have proliferated, and country has emerged as a major transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty for a better life in Europe.

LNA is largest and best organized of country’s many militias, and enjoys support of Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Russia. But it has faced stiff resistance from fighters aligned with U.N.-recognized government, which is aided by Turkey and Qatar.

RE | Blast Targeting Police In Pakistan's Quetta That Killed 5 & Injured 38 Caught On Camera