Twin Car Bombs Hit Libya's Capital Killing Two People

Two car bombs exploded in Libya's capital Tripoli early on Sunday morning killing at least two people, security officials said.

The first car bomb went off near the former military academy for women on Omar al-Mokhtar Avenue while the second one exploded thirty minutes later in an alley near the Interior Ministry's administrative offices, wounding several people, the Associated Press and BBC reported, citing Libyan officials. The explosion near the military academy left two people dead and at least four injured. A third bomb was discovered and defused, the officials said.

The attacks took place as Libyans were preparing for mass morning prayers to mark Eid al-Fitr, the festival at the end of Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

This is the first deadly bomb blast since the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi's regime last year.

An explosion hit the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on August 1, reportedly targeting a military intelligence unit, with no casualties.

Libya's ruling National Transitional Council (NTC), political arm of the opposition forces that toppled Muammar Gaddafi a year ago, handed over power to a newly elected national assembly on August 8.

The interim government had been struggling to gain full control of the country since Gaddafi was killed last year following a violent uprising.