By Walid Abdullah

TRIPOLI, Libya

Fayez al-Sarraj, head of Libya’s Tripoli-based UN-backed unity government, reiterated calls for national unity on Friday following a deadly terrorist attack in the city of Benghazi.

Al-Sarraj made the appeal in a statement released by his office hours after downtown Benghazi was rocked by a car bomb that left at least six people dead.

“We condemn this cowardly attack in Benghazi in the strongest possible terms,” the statement read.

“Such crimes, which are contrary to the teachings of Islam and humanitarian values, will only strengthen the people’s resolve to fight terrorism,” it added.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, which left six civilians dead and more than 20 others injured.

Libya has been dogged by turmoil since 2011, when a bloody NATO-backed uprising led to the death of President Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades in power.

Since then, Libya’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power -- one in Tobruk and another in Tripoli -- and a host of heavily-armed militia groups.