A car bomb exploded just outside the
French embassy in Tripoli early this morning, injuring two French
security guards and a local girl
The
blast was so powerful it blew the front wall off the embassy. Windows
of nearby buildings in this upscale, largely residential neighborhood
were also blown out.
Deputy
Prime Minister Awad Barasi said a 13-year-old girl in a nearby house
was injured in the attack and will be taken to Tunisia for treatment.
Barasi said he spoke with the French ambassador to Libya, who assured him he will not leave Tripoli.
A criminal investigation is under way to try to determine who was behind the attack, and why.
The French Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the attack.