Libyan army clashes with Islamist militants

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    A member of the Libyan army shoots towards members of Islamist militant group Ansar al-Sharia during clashes between the group and a Libyan army special forces unit in Ras Obeida

    A member of the Libyan army shoots towards members of Islamist militant group Ansar al-Sharia during clashes between the group and a Libyan army special forces unit in the Ras Obeida area in Benghazi November 25, 2013. Clashes between Libyan troops and militants in the eastern city of Benghazi on Monday killed at least three people and wounded a dozen more during a military operation, security and medical officials said. Fighting broke out when an army special forces unit pursued a suspect into an area where Ansar al-Sharia operates its own checkpoints, Benghazi city security officials said. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori (LIBYA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST MILITARY POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

    Libyan troops struggling to establish control across the country clashed with militants in the eastern city of Benghazi on Monday and at least nine people were killed in the fighting, according to city officials.




    Still in training, Libya's new military faces a challenge from Islamist militants and militias who fought in the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi but refuse to disarm and control parts of the country. (Reuters)