Libyan army clashes with Islamist militants, three killed

Clashes between Libyan troops and militants in the eastern city of Benghazi on Monday killed at least three people and wounded dozens during a military operation, officials have said.

Libya’s new military, which is still in training, is struggling to curb Islamist militants and militias who fought in the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi but have refused to disarm.

Reports indicate that the development presents a delicate situation as the militants and militias control parts of the country.

However, security and medical officials on Monday said gunfire and explosions could be heard in Benghazi while thick smoke rose from the Ras Obeida area.

The army has since ordered residents to stay off the city streets, witnesses said.

Benghazi city security officials said fighting broke out when an army Special Forces Unit pursued a suspect into an area where Islamist militant group Ansar al-Sharia operates its own checkpoints.

Ansar al-Sharia was blamed for the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi a year ago, when the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed.

The chaos in Libya is worrying its neighbours and the western powers which backed the 2011 uprising.

The uprising had led to the fall of Gaddafi two years ago in one of the Arab Spring revolts.

The Prime Minister, Ali Zeidan, who was briefly abducted by a militia last month, met U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and British Foreign Secretary William Hague in London on Sunday.

The meeting was to discuss co-operation.

Rival militia groups withdrew from Tripoli last week after clashes killed more than 40 people when protesters marched to one of the militia bases to demand they leave the city.

Hoping to co-opt former fighters, the government had hired militia groups to provide security.

But they have remained loyal to their commanders or tribes, and often clash in disputes over territory or personal feuds.

The U.S. military, Britain, France, NATO and Turkey have all promised aid for the OPEC country’s armed forces.

But most of the programmes are just beginning and the military is still no match for the armed groups.