Libya violence: Activists beheaded in Derna

Three young activists have been found beheaded in Derna, in eastern Libya, the BBC reported.

The three, who had relayed information about the city through social media, had been kidnapped earlier this month.

Several Islamist groups are competing for control of the city, with some militants recently declaring allegiance to Islamic State.

Libya has been in a state of flux since Col Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011, with disparate tribes, militias and political factions fighting for power.

The BBC's Rana Jawad, in the capital, Tripoli, says that in the immediate aftermath of the revolution that ousted Gaddafi, many rebel fighters left to fight with militant groups opposing the rule of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

Many of the fighters are believed to have returned home, settling in the east of the country, she says.

The activists have been named as Siraj Ghatish, Mohamed Battu and Mohamed al-Mesmari.

There appear to be three main militant groups in Derna, with varying degrees of extremism.

They are the Islamic Youth Shura Council, a branch of Ansar al-Sharia, and the more moderate Martyrs of Abuslim Brigade.

The group that declared allegiance to IS is unclear, although the activist who spoke to the BBC said it appeared to be a group that broke away from the Shura Council.