Benghazi rocked by deadly car bombing

At least seven people were killed and 10 wounded when a car bomb exploded on a busy street in the centre of the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Thursday night, a hospital medic said.

The bomb exploded behind the Tibesti hotel, the city's biggest, overlooking the Mediterranean.

Eight cars parked on the street lined with shops were destroyed.

Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city, is controlled by the Libyan National Army (LNA), the dominant force in eastern Libya led by commander Khalifa Haftar.

The LNA was battling its enemies, including some linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda, as well as other opponents until late last year in the Mediterranean port city.

Security has improved since then, but two mosque bombings earlier this year killed at least 35 people.

Haftar launched his military campaign in Benghazi in May 2014 in response to bombings and assassinations blamed on "terrorists".

In the past few months, there have been occasional, smaller-scale bombings apparently targeting LNA allies or supporters, but attacks in the city centre are rare.