TRIPOLI, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Libya's pro-government forces battling Islamic State (IS) military group in Sirte on Saturday freed 13 hostages held by IS.
The hostages, 11 Eritrean women, a Turk and an Egyptian, were freed while the government forces attempted to take over the 600 Block, said the media office of the government forces on its Facebook account.
The government fighters have taken over the block after three days of fierce fighting against IS affiliates, the media office said.
Libya's UN-backed government of national accord formed a coalition of militias in May to fight against the increased dominance of IS in Sirte, some 450 km east the capital Tripoli.
The IS had taken Sirte, the hometown of former leader Muammar Gaddafi who was toppled in the 2011 uprising, for over a year before the pro-government fighters took control of most of the city, assisted by U.S. air strikes.
