Libya army in Benghazi clashes with Ansar al-Sharia ----------------------------------------------- At least three people have been killed in clashes between the Libyan army and an Islamist militia in the restive eastern city of Benghazi, reports say. Gunfire could be heard from the early hours of the morning and smoke was seen rising in part of the city. Casualties were reported among both the army and Ansar al-Sharia, an armed Islamist group suspected of killing US ambassador Christopher Stevens in 2012. The government has struggled to contain militias in control of parts of Libya. Ten days ago, Prime Minister Ali Zeidan called on all militias to leave the capital, Tripoli, after fatal clashes between militiamen and protesters. The militias took part in the uprising that led to the fall of Col Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 but have been told by the interim government to disband or join the army by the end of the year. Reports from Libyas second city early on Monday spoke of explosions and gunfire in the Fwaihat area. An army spokesman told AFP news agency the violence had broken out when a special forces patrol had been targeted close to the Ansar al-Sharia headquarters.A hospital source at Jala hospital was quoted by local media as saying three soldiers had been killed and another 10 were wounded. Heavy but intermittent clashes were reported for several hours in various areas of the city. Residents were said to be staying at home and schools were closed. Benghazi, one of Libyas least stable areas, was where the uprising of Col Gaddafi began. It was also where the US ambassador and three other Americans were killed in an attack on the US consulate on 11 September 2012. Ansar al-Sharia, which is believed to have links with foreign Islamist groups, has been linked to several attacks in eastern Libya. Several Islamist groups have formed from the anti-Gaddafi rebels and they have been blamed for recent murders in nearby Derna. A judge, two traffic police and a tribal chief have died in the port city east of Benghazi in just over a week.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 08:27:04 +0000
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