TRIPOLI, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The UN Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame condemned on Saturday the deadly car bomb explosion in the eastern city of Benghazi, which killed 2 UN officials and injured 8 civilians.

"This cowardly attack, which comes at a time when Libyans are out shopping in preparation for the Eid al-Adha, serves as another strong reminder of the urgent need for Libyans to stop fighting, set aside their differences and work together through dialogue and not violence to end the conflict in Libya," Salame said in a statement by the UN Mission.

The explosion took place in front of a shopping mall in the eastern city of Benghazi.

Last month, a car bomb explosion hit a funeral of a former army official in Benghazi, with four killed and more than 30 others injured.

Benghazi, Libya's second largest city, is controlled by the east-based army, which is currently engaged in a deadly armed conflict against the UN-backed government over control of the capital Tripoli.

Libya has been suffering escalated violence and insecurity ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.