Libyan soldiers killed in night of violence in Benghazi

At least five Libyans soldiers were killed early on Friday in clashes with gunmen in the restive eastern city of Benghazi, military sources and medics said.

The soldiers were killed when clashes broke out as armed men stormed the Benghazi police station, an officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Anadolu Agency reported an unamed source as saying that one soldier was killed in Benghazi's Hawari district as gunmen tried to free a weapons-laden vehicle that had been seized by security forces.

Four soldiers were also killed by rebels as they were driving to their military barracks in the city, the source told AA.

There has been no claim of responsibility for any of the attacks.

According to Reuters, the fighting came days after a suicide bomber had detonated an explosive-packed minibus outside a Libyan army camp in Benghazi, killing two people and wounding two more in the second suicide attack since December.

Car bombings and assassinations of soldiers and police are common in the eastern city, says the news agency, adding that  troops have clashed regularly with militants there from the Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia - listed as a terrorist organization by Washington.