At least 22 soldiers were killed in clashes with an extremist militia on Thursday in eastern Libya, where an oil tank also caught fire in separate fighting, officials said.

At least 22 soldiers were killed in clashes with an extremist militia on Thursday in eastern Libya, where an oil tank also caught fire in separate fighting, officials said.

A military source said the soldiers were killed in attacks launched by the Fajr Libya movement in Sirte, while the oil tank at the port of Al-Sidra was hit by rocket fire in other clashes.