Tripoli, May 15 (IANS): At least seven children were killed in the Libyan city of Benghazi during intense artillery battles between forces allied to the Tripoli government, defending the city, and soldiers loyal to the internationally-recognised government of Tobruk, besieging the city.

Medical staff told Efe new agency that the victims arrived at the central hospital after a series of clashes in al-Salam district on Thursday night, located in Saknia area.

For the past year, Benghazi, Libya's second largest city, has been under fire from troops loyal to Gen. Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan government in Tobruk.

Fighting in Benghazi is among the main hurdles preventing UN-sponsored negotiations at making progress to achieve national consensus.

Libya has fallen prey to political chaos and civil war since the international community helped to overthrow the dictatorial regime of Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011.

Since then, two parallel governments have been formed: an Islamist-led government in Tripoli and the internationally recognised government in Tobruk. Both compete for power, and both are threatened by extremists groups such as Al Qaeda and Islamic State.