BENGHAZI, Libya (AFP) - A powerful blast caused severe damage to a foreign ministry building in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Wednesday, witnesses said.

It was not immediately known if the blast, which the witnesses said appeared to have been caused by a car bomb, had resulted in casualties.

The explosion comes on the first anniversary of an attack by militants on the United States consulate in Benghazi, which killed four Americans, including the ambassador.