DHAKA: Nine people have been killed in new violence in the northeastern Libyan city of Benghazi where pro-government militias have launched an offensive against rival militias, raising the toll to 75 dead in five days according to medics.

In the latest violence, a woman was killed in a bomb attack that targeted the vacant house of former General Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the pro-government militias, a military source said.

The woman was walking past the house with her daughter, who was wounded in the bombing, the Benghazi Medical Centre said, adding that it had also received the bodies of eight other people including two soldiers.

Fierce fighting raged in several parts of Libya’s second city between pro-government forces led by Haftar and conservative militias, the Aljazeera reported.

Air raids carried out by units of the air force loyal to Haftar targeted rival militia positions.

Dozens of people have been killed in Benghazi in fighting between the Dawn of Libya, an alliance of militias that has declared a rival government in Tripoli, and forces led by Haftar.

BDST: 1003 HRS, OCT 20, 2014