At least three people have died in clashes that broke out when police, government soldiers, and activists stormed the main headquarters of a militia in Benghazi in a coordinated sweep.

"Three people are dead. We have also received 20 wounded," AFP quoted a doctor at al-Hawari Hospital as saying on Friday.

The fighting occurred following a large demonstration against militia groups on Friday.

The protesters, demanding the government demobilize the militias and form a national army and police, stormed Rafalla el-Shati camp in the city.


Hundreds of protestors swooped on the headquarters of the group, located 15 kilometers (10 miles) from the center of Benghazi.

Clashes erupted between the two sides and lasted for two hours before the brigade moved out of their base.

Earlier, Libyan protesters attacked the base of an extremist militia in Benghazi, driving the group out of its headquarters.

Members of Ansar al-Sharia fired in the air before being forced out of their base by the demonstrators who were chanting “Libya, Libya”.

Another compound overtaken by the demonstrators belonged to the Abu Slim Brigade in Benghazi.

An Army general, who gave his name as Naji, heaped praise on local citizens for their contribution to the takeover of the base.

"What happened is that a group of citizens, 17th February revolutionaries, most of them live in the neighborhood of Seadi Hussain. These people demanded that the compound be handed over to the Libyan army. We have struggled to get in and now we are taking over this place, and there are other places we will take with the help of the revolutionaries and the people," he said.
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Press TV