Clashes between armed residents and members of a militant Islamic group in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi killed five people and wounded nearly 40 early on Monday, officials said. The fighting started before dawn between armed citizens and members of the officially dissolved militant Ansar al-Shariah group, and later prompted the army’s special forces to step in to quell the violence, said security officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Sounds of explosions and gunfire echoed across much of the city, but mainly in the Raas Obeida district and surrounding areas. Clouds of black smoke hung over Benghazi as ambulances rushed the wounded to hospital. The city’s al-Jalaa hospital received the bodies of four soldiers and one civilian, according to the hospital spokeswoman, Fadya al-Barghathi. Classes were suspended at the city’s schools and local university, and most Benghazi residents […]