Arms depot blast kills at least 29 near Libyan capital

At least 29 people have been killed and dozens injured in Libya on Tuesday after stored ammunition exploded in Garabulli, a town about 60km east of the capital Tripoli.

A resident told the Libya Observer that the explosion occured after local fighters shot at a container, filled with arms and fireworks, on a base held by a Misrata brigade that has been stationed in the town for almost five years.

Clashes between the fighters and members of the brigade reportedly broke out on Tuesday, although reports differed on the source of the fight.

According to AFP, a security officials said that locals had accused brigade members of stealing at a local grocery store, storming the brigade's warehouse.

But eyewitnesses told the Libya Observer that fighting started after a local shopkeeper killed a member of the brigade who had assaulted him.

A medical source said there were body parts around the arms depot and that the death toll could rise.

Meanwhile, At least 34 Libyan pro-government forces were killed and 100 wounded in clashes with Islamic State (IS) group militants as they prepared for a final assault on the IS stronghold of Sirte.

It was one of bloodiest days since forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) launched an offensive in May to retake Sirte from IS.

The fall of Sirte would be a major blow to IS which has faced a series of setbacks in Syria and Iraq where local forces and a US-led coalition are pressing an offensive against their positions.

34 killed in Sirte fighting

A statement by the GNA said Tuesday's fighting took place in several parts of Sirte, where militants are pinned down in pockets of the coastal city.

Speaking from the western city of Misrata, the source said the death toll had risen from 18 to 34, with the number of wounded increasing from 70 to 100.

It was one of the heaviest tolls since the pro-GNA forces launched an offensive in May to dislodge IS from Sirte - hometown of ousted and slain dictator Moamer Gaddafi which IS seized in June last year.

The GNA forces earlier said "dozens" of members of IS had been killed within 24 hours.

They also announced that their "intelligence network is in full swing in preparation for the decisive battle" against IS militants in the city, after repelling multiple counter-attacks.

The statement said militants were targeting IS-held areas of Sirte with heavy artillery while loyalist aircraft were carrying out sorties every day to strike IS or carry out reconnaissance missions.

IS members "are besieged in a small area of Sirte and although they have sought to break out our forces have repelled all attempts," the statement said.

It said militants had barricaded themselves in residential buildings and deployed snipers and explosive devices to fend off pro-GNA forces.

IS has hit back with a string of suicide car bombings in a bid to defend their stronghold on the Mediterranean coast.

Around 200 loyalist troops have been killed and hundreds wounded since the start of the offensive to capture Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli.

An unknown number of IS members have been killed.