[Libya Herald] The Al-Berka Palace in Benghazi has partially collapsed apparently as a result of long neglect, locals have said.One Benghazi resident living in the Berka district, near to the palace, told the Libya Herald that the 19th Century building had been in need of repair for more than ten years. She added that both the Qadaffy regime and the revolutionary authorities had showed little interest in the structure.
There had been some speculation that the palace had been destroyed by shelling or bombing. However residents said the only fighting near the building had taken place early in the revolution. Qadaffy loyalists were driven from the nearby Al-Fadel Abu Amar base during the liberation of Benghazi and no other group has taken up positions there.
Skirmishes at that time in the vicinity of the palace may have contributed to the collapse but were not the cause of the destruction.