A Dutch journalist was killed on Sunday in Libya's coastal city Sirte, as fierce fighting continues to eradicate the radical Islamic State (IS) group, online news Libya Observer reported, quoting a medical source.

A spokesperson of Misrata Central Hospital said the photojournalist, Jeroen Oerlemans, was shot in the chest by an IS sniper while covering clashes in Sirte, the report said.

It said the journalist worked for the Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant.

The UN-backed unity government of Libya in May formed a force, mostly composed of militias from the city of Misrata, to fight against the increased IS presence in Sirte.

Backed by the U.S. air srikes, the Libyan forces managed to control most of Sirte, with the remaining IS fighters trapped in a small area in the city.

The fierce fighting has, so far, claimed the lives of hundreds of the government fighters, and forced the residents of Sirte to flee to nearby cities.

Sirte, the hometown of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi who was toppled in the 2011 uprising, had been dominated by IS affiliates for more than a year.

The terrorist group is responsible for suicide bombings and killing of foreigners in Libya.

Source : XINHUA