Tripoli: Seven members of the al Qaeda-affiliated militia Ansar Al Sharia died in Libya`s Sirte in an explosion Monday, Libyan Deputy Defence Minister Khaled Al Sharif said Tuesday.
Al Sharif said that the militants died after the ammunition that was packed in their vehicle blew up while they were driving, Xinhua reported.
Residents of Sirte, 450 km east of Libya`s capital Tripoli and hometown of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, were reluctant to give information about the presence of the Benghazi-based fundamentalist group there.
However, reports indicate that Ansar Al Sharia has a training camp for combatants 15 km west from downtown Sirte.
Accusations that the explosion came from a US drone attack circulated shortly after the accident.
However, Ansar Al Sharia in a statement Tuesday denied it was a drone strike.
These accusations come amid the general discontent that has gripped Libya since the US disclosed that it had carried out a raid to capture Al Qaeda suspect Anas Abu al Libi Oct 5.
However, reports indicate that Ansar Al Sharia has a training camp for combatants 15 km west from downtown Sirte.
Accusations that the explosion came from a US drone attack circulated shortly after the accident.
However, Ansar Al Sharia in a statement Tuesday denied it was a drone strike.
These accusations come amid the general discontent that has gripped Libya since the US disclosed that it had carried out a raid to capture Al Qaeda suspect Anas Abu al Libi Oct 5.
