Cairo: A Libyan militant group appeared to deny reports that a US strike had killed veteran Algerian Islamist Mokhtar Belmokhtar, in a statement published on Twitter.
Libya's government said on Sunday that Mokhtar, blamed for a deadly assault on an Algerian gas field and a major figure in insurgencies across North Africa, had died alongside other militant leaders.
But a statement on the Twitter account of the Ansar al Sharia militant group had a list of seven people it said had died in the attack that did not include a name resembling Belmokhtar's.
"While we eulogies these heroes ... we deny the killing of any other personalities besides those whom we have named who are sons of this land (Libya)" the statement added.
Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the statement.
US officials have not confirmed the reports that Belmokhtar was killed in eastern Libya, saying on Monday that the F-15 jet raid appeared to have succeeded but stopping short of commenting on his demise.
Libya's government said on Sunday that Mokhtar, blamed for a deadly assault on an Algerian gas field and a major figure in insurgencies across North Africa, had died alongside other militant leaders.
But a statement on the Twitter account of the Ansar al Sharia militant group had a list of seven people it said had died in the attack that did not include a name resembling Belmokhtar's.
Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the statement.
Advertisement
© Thomson Reuters 2015
COMMENTS
Advertisement
India Relaxes Travel Ban On Libya, Urges To Avoid "Non-Essential Travel" US Carries Out Strike In Iraq Amid Middle East Tensions Libya PM's Homes Targeted With RPGs, No Casualties Reported 9 Dead, 2,800 Hurt As Pagers Explode Across Lebanon, Hezbollah Blames Israel 3 Grams Of Explosives Per Pager: Israel's Complex Op To Hurt Hezbollah "Wear Proper Undergarments": Delta Airlines' New Memo For Flight Attendants Israel On Alert As Hezbollah Vows Retaliation Over Pager Attacks In Lebanon Video: Brazil Mayoral Candidate Attacks Opponent With Chair On Live TV 3 Grams Of Explosives Per Pager: Israel's Complex Op To Hurt Hezbollah Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.