Blast in libyan city Bengazi

A major explosion rocked the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Wednesday, broadcaster Al Arabiya reported, apparently targeting a military intelligence building.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. The building is in the district of Fuwaihat, near the Tunisian and Turkish consulates.

Meanwhile, the Libyan Red Crescent said an Iranian team of seven medics were abducted by gunmen after they left a meeting at its office in Benghazi on Tuesday. An official in the Iranian Health Ministry confirmed the abductions. The delegation was in Benghazi to sign an agreement related to humanitarian activities with the Libyan Red Crescent, the IRNA news agency reported.

Libya’s transitional government has struggled to gain full control of the country since Muammar Qadhafi was toppled last year.

Local militias, who played a leading role in the revolt against Qadhafi, retain much control locally and have repeatedly carried out arrests and kidnappings.

In June, militia in the western town of Zintan detained officials from the International Criminal Court (ICC) who were visiting Qadhafi’s son, Saif al-Islam.

The officials were released after almost a month of negotiations between the militia, transitional authorities and ICC.