Libya coastguard clashes with suspected smugglers, four killed: Spokesman

Tripoli: Four suspected migrant smugglers were killed in an exchange of fire with coastguards off Libya`s western coast on Thursday, coastguard spokesman Ayoub Qasem said.

Qasem said a German journalist travelling in the coastguard boat was also injured in the clash, which he said had started when the coastguards tried to apprehend heavily armed gunmen guarding a migrant boat.

Two of the suspected smugglers were arrested and one was missing, Qasem said.