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A COALITION of militias has overrun a major Libyan army base in Benghazi held by allies of a renegade general.
Special forces of the Saiqa brigade, loyal to retired General Khalifa Haftar, abandoned their base in the city’s south-east after coming under attack on Tuesday.
“We have withdrawn from the army base after heavy shelling,” Saiqa spokesman Fadel al-Hassi admitted.
The battle killed at least 30 people.
Benghazi has suffered months-long battles between militias and forces allied with Gen Haftar, who launched an unofficial campaign aimed at crushing what he calls “terrorists” and “extremists” including Ansar al-Sharia (Protectors of the Law).
Ansar al-Sharia said it had taken over the base.
The base’s fall came as a ceasefire between Libyan militias in Tripoli failed.
The ceasefire agreement had been intended to allow firefighters to battle an out-of-control blaze near Tripoli’s airport, which was devastated by shelling between the rival militias.
