‘Korean embassy in Libya attacked by armed assailants’

The Korean embassy in Tripoli was attacked by armed robbers, but no one was hurt during the rioting, an official in Seoul said Monday.

About 15 rioters stormed the embassy building at around 5:20 a.m. (local time) on Sunday and attempted to steal televisions and other electronic goods, but they left empty-handed as Libyan rebel forces arrived on the scene upon an embassy staff's report.

"There were two or three embassy staff at the time of the rioting, but no one was injured," said Shin Maeng-ho, a spokesman at Seoul's foreign ministry.

The incident came less than a week after a gang of armed robbers looted the South Korean ambassador's residence in Tripoli and stole televisions and other gadgets.

Most Korean embassy officials have been temporarily moved to a Tunisian island since late May amid escalating dangers from NATO air strikes against forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

After a six-month-long bloody uprising against Gadhafi's iron-fist rule, rebel fighters last week stormed the Libyan capital, but forces loyal to Gadhafi were continuing their resistance and street fighting raged in Tripoli.

Libyan rebels have advanced toward Sirte, Gadhafi's hometown, but Gadhafi has yet to appear.

South Korea has officially recognized Libya's rebel-led council as the North African nation's legitimate government and pledged to provide humanitarian assistance to the rebel Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) and the Libyan people. (Yonhap)

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