A car bomb has exploded outside the French embassy in Libya.

Two guards have been injured and part of the building and two car parks were badly damaged by a fire.

The explosion happened at around 7 o'clock this morning local time in the Gargaresh area of Tripoli.

Officials in the capital say it's unclear as to why the embassy was targetted and no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, has condemned the attack and says he is in contact with Libyan officials and would do everything to bring those responsible to justice.

It's the first attack on a foreign embassy since militants stormed the US consulate in Benghazi in September.