Gunmen attacked a popular and high profile hotel in the Libya's largest city, Tripoli.

Eight people are confirmed killed in the attack in which the gunmen made for the higher floors of the building, before detonating bombs strapped to their bodies once they became surrounded by security officials.

The siege lasted several hours in a country that is mir3ed by two rival governments - an internationally recognised on based in eastern Libya and a rival administration in Tripoli after an armed faction, Libya Dawn, took over the capital.

Al Jazeera's Victoria Gatenby explains.