Tripoli forces clash with IS militants in Libya's Sirte

Fierce clashes erupted again on Monday in the central Libyan city of Sirte between Islamic State (IS) militants and forces loyal to the Tripoli-based government.

Mohamed Zadma, who is leading the security operation in Sirte, told Anadolu Agency that his forces had been "hunting down" IS militants near a number of government buildings in the city.

Zadma said his forces had killed an as-yet-unspecified number of IS militants during the confrontations.

A local resident said IS militants were using artillery in the fighting, damaging residential buildings near IS-controlled areas.

Violent clashes broke out last week between the two camps after IS militants attacked sites belonging to Zadma's forces in western Sirte.

Libya has remained in a state of turmoil since a bloody uprising ended the decades-long rule of strongman Muammar Gaddafi in late 2011.

Since then, the country's stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of government, each with its own institutions and military capacities.

Vying for legislative authority are the Tobruk-based House of Representatives and the General National Congress, which convenes in capital Tripoli.

The two assemblies support two rival governments respectively headquartered in the two cities.