Fireworks Hurt 150 as Libya Marks Prophet's Birthday

Almost 150 people, mostly children, were injured by fireworks in Tripoli set off to celebrate the Prophet Mohammed's birthday, hospital sources said on Thursday.

"On Wednesday night we received more than 120 victims, mostly children, who suffered from burns of varying degrees," news agency LANA quoted Bashir al-Shawess of Tripoli's burns hospital as saying.

Another hospital, in the Abu Slim area of the Libyan capital, reported that 25 patients were admitted with similar injuries.

Libyans celebrate the Prophet's birthday every year with firework displays and firecrackers, but because of lax import regulations after the country's 2011 revolution, more powerful pyrotechnics have been allowed in.

Loud explosions were heard late on Wednesday during the celebrations, an Agence France Presse correspondent said.

"This reminds us of the night of Tripoli's liberation (from slain strongman Moammar Gadhafi)" in August 2011, a Libyan radio broadcaster said of the rebel forces' move into the capital.