Heavy fighting broke out near the airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Sunday.

Explosions could be heard on the airport road and other parts of the city. It was not immediately clear who was behind them.

Social media websites said several rockets hit the parking area in front of the main terminal.

Several airlines have cancelled their flights to Tripoli.

The airport area has been controlled by militia fighters from Zintan in northwestern Libya since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 

Libya has been in chaos since Gaddafi was ousted in 2011. Its government has been unable to unite the different religious and political factions.