Libyan court sentences IS members to death – reports

A Libyan court is reported to have issued death sentences to 35 people accused of being members of the militant Islamic State (IS) group.

A further 23 were jailed at the hearing in Misrata.

Five people were acquitted.

The defendants – all held since December 2016 – are the first group of more than 300 alleged jihadists due to be tried and sentenced.

The case comes six years after more than 700 pro-Tripoli government fighters were killed in a battle to retake the Libyan city of Sirte from IS jihadists.