Libya takes Sirte convention centre off IS

A convention centre and university in the Libyan city of Sirte has been recaptured from Islamic State by the UN-backed government.

Libyan forces battling to oust Islamic State from Sirte say they have made significant advances, gaining control of a large convention centre previously used as a base by the jihadist group.

"Our forces have complete control of the whole of the Ouagadougou (convention) complex - they even advanced some distance beyond the complex," Rida Issa, a spokesman in the forces' media office, said on Wednesday.

Fighters also captured Sirte's hospital and university complex, he said.