Have captured IS base in Sirte: Libyan forces

Tripoli, Aug 11 (IANS) Pro-Libyan government forces on Wednesday claimed that they have captured the terrorist group Islamic State's (IS) headquarters in the city of Sirte.

The group had turned the Ouagadougou conference centre -- once a showpiece of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime -- into their local headquarters, The Telegraph reported.

The government forces claimed to have captured the conference centre after fierce fighting.

The forces had launched an offensive to break IS grip on Sirte, which was helped by US air strikes.

"The Ouagadougou centre is in our hands," said a statement from the operations centre of the forces deployed by the Government of National Accord, an internationally recognised administration leading the battle for Sirte.

But the terrorist organisation still holds some areas of the city, located in Gaddafi's home area.