A loud explosion was reported in the Libyan capital of Tripoli near to a building that houses the Canadian Embassy, but an official says the office is closed and all staff are safe.


The Canadian official, speaking on background, said a statement would be released shortly.


The explosion occurred in the car park of a residential compound next to Tripoli Towers, where both the British and Canadian embassies are located, according to a Reuters report citing an unnamed witness.


It was not immediately clear what caused the blast, but a source working in the building said it could have been a car bomb.


More to come


With files from Reuters