TRIPOLI, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based army on Wednesday denied responsibility for the deadly airstrike on an immigration center in the capital Tripoli, which killed dozens of migrants.

"The army strongly denies what the government is trying to promote about the Libyan air force targeting a reception center for illegal migrants," the army's information office said in a statement.

The army accused the UN-backed government of carrying out the airstrike and attempting to accuse the army of it.

"Our forces' strikes are very accurate on their targets and take into account all actions that ensure the protection of civilians. Our forces do not allow such acts to happen," the statement said.

Dozens of illegal migrants have been killed and injured in a reception center housing more than 600 migrants in eastern Tripoli later Tuesday.

The army has been leading a military campaign since early April to take over Tripoli from the government.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the fighting has so far killed hundreds of people and injured thousands others, while tens of thousands fled their homes because of the armed conflict.

Libya has been suffering escalating violence and political instability ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. Enditem

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