CRI听力:Libya's Hotel Attack Aims at Islamist-backed Premier: Tripoli

The Libyan government has claimed that the attack on a hotel in Tripoli targeted the country's Prime Minister, Omar al-Hassi.

The self-proclaimed National Salvation Government has released a statement saying that some suspicious men stormed into the Corinthia Hotel and headed towards al-Hassi's room after detonating a bomb in the parking lot.

The attackers, identified as loyalists to former leader Muammar Gaddafi threw grenades and fired upon guests in the hotel.

A security officer describes what happened at the scene.

"Two people armed with explosives inside their bags, one of them hugged me, one of them exploded and the other one did not explode."

al-Hassi had been transferred to a safe location.

Eight people, including four members of the security force and four foreign hotel staff, died during the attack.

The statement is far different from media reports that the attackers were from Islamic State affiliates.

The IS offshoot in Libya earlier claimed the attack on its official social media webpage, saying it launched the attack because the hotel contained "non-Muslim diplomatic missions and security companies."

Libya has been deadlocked in turmoil with two rival governments, one headed by the Islamist-backed Omar al-Hassi and another headed by the internationally-recognized secular Abdullah Thinni.

The armed forces loyal to the two sides respectively have been engaged in intense battles since last May, leaving at least 1,000 people dead and more than 100 thousand displaced.