A Libyan former minister was killed in clashes between unity government forces and fighters of the Islamic State jihadist group in the Sirte area, the LANA news agency reported Sunday.
Mohammed Soualem, labour minister in Ali Zeidan's government from 2012 to 2014, "was directing military operations against IS" at the time, said the agency loyal to the North African country's new unity government.
Media reports said he was killed Saturday in fighting in the Abu Grein area, 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of Sirte, the jihadist group's main stronghold in Libya and hometown of late dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
"The clashes cost the life of Commander Mohammed Soualem and wounded five fighters," LANA reported.
"Air units in support of this operation succeeded in destroying dozens of vehicles" used by IS "and wounded several" jihadists, it said.
The former head of a combat brigade in Misrata during the revolt that led to Kadhafi's downfall and killing in 2011, Soualem was a member of Misrata's city council before becoming minister in 2012.