Libya playground bomb wounds 12 children

A bomb rocked the playground of a primary school in Benghazi during recess Wednesday, wounding 12 children, hours after gunmen had rampaged through the streets of Libya's restive second city.

Witnesses said the bomb was thrown over the school wall while the children were playing.
Medics said two of the injured children were in serious condition.

Benghazi, cradle of the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Moamer Kadhafi, has seen near-daily attacks on security and other targets in recent months as the weak central government has tried to rein in former rebel brigades turned militias.

Six children suffering "light to moderate" injuries were admitted to the city's Al-Jala hospital, spokeswoman Fadia al-Barghathi said.

Another medical official said six other children, two in serious condition, were taken to Benghazi medical centre.

A security official described the force of the explosion as "weak" and said a hunt was under way for those behind the attack, for which no one immediately claimed responsibility.

"Witnesses saw an individual throw an explosive device over the school wall during recess," the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.