Libyan Islamist fighters seize army bases in Benghazi

Islamist groups seized the army special-forces headquarters in Benghazi, Libya after days of fighting that left at least 35 soldiers dead and plunged the country deeper into lawlessness.

An Islamist and jihadi alliance announced the capture of the main military base in the eastern city in a statement on Wednesday, which was confirmed by an army official.

Ansar al-Sharia, blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Washington, posted photos on Facebook of dozens of weapons and crates of ammunition it claimed its jihadis had seized from the base.

Libya's Red Crescent said it had recovered the bodies of 35 soldiers from the base.

In the Libyan capital, Tripoli, a battle for control of the airport has seen nearly 100 people killed, 400 wounded and much of the airport destroyed in some of the worst violence since 2011.

A giant fire raged for the past three days after shelling hit airport oil depots, forcing nearby residents to evacuate, with firefighters largely unable to put it down because of clashes.

The head of the Muslim Brotherhood's political party, Mohammed Sawan, said the Islamsit militias' attempt to take the airport was prompted by fear that a renegade army general, Khalifa Hifter, would move his campaign from Benghazi to Tripoli, especially after the militias running the airport declared their backing for the general.