Libya's army chief of staff resigned on Sunday as an elite military unit took control of a base of pro-government militias after clashes killed 31 people in the eastern city of Benghazi.
The developments underlined the security chaos in Libya more than a year and a half after longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi was deposed in a civil war.
Army Chief of Staff Major General Youssef al-Mangoush resigned citing the unusually high death toll from the Benghazi clashes.
Military officers had been protesting against al-Mangoush for weeks, accusing him of corruption and of failing to exert authority over militias.
Some militias were believed to have favoured al-Mangoush remaining in his post, because he had been unable to replace them with a strong unified force.
Speaking at a news conference in Tripoli, Juma'a Ahmed Ateega, Frist Deputy of General National Congress, confirmed al-Mangoush's resignation.
"We have accepted the resignation of the Libyan chief of staff General Youssef Ahmed Al-Mangoush, and we have assigned General Salem Gnedi the deputy to take the tasks of the chief of staff until we assign a new chief of staff," he said.
The violence broke out on Saturday when protesters stormed a base belonging to Libya Shield, a grouping of militias aligned with the military that were tasked with helping to maintain security.
The protesters were demanding that the militias leave their camp and submit to the full authority of Libya's security forces.
It remains unclear which side fired first. Libyan officials have provided few details of the clashes.
Witnesses said some of the protesters brought weapons to the camp, which was the main Benghazi base for Libya Shield militiamen. The militiamen appeared outnumbered by hundreds of protesters outside the gates.
Hospital officials said protesters made up most of the dead. Many were buried on Sunday.
The officials spoke anonymously as they were not authorised to speak to reporters.
According to the director at the city's Jalaa Hospital Mohamed Belied, the deaths were caused by gunshots and explosive fragments. He said that dozens of people were wounded.
The developments underlined the security chaos in Libya more than a year and a half after longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi was deposed in a civil war.
Army Chief of Staff Major General Youssef al-Mangoush resigned citing the unusually high death toll from the Benghazi clashes.
Military officers had been protesting against al-Mangoush for weeks, accusing him of corruption and of failing to exert authority over militias.
Some militias were believed to have favoured al-Mangoush remaining in his post, because he had been unable to replace them with a strong unified force.
Speaking at a news conference in Tripoli, Juma'a Ahmed Ateega, Frist Deputy of General National Congress, confirmed al-Mangoush's resignation.
"We have accepted the resignation of the Libyan chief of staff General Youssef Ahmed Al-Mangoush, and we have assigned General Salem Gnedi the deputy to take the tasks of the chief of staff until we assign a new chief of staff," he said.
The violence broke out on Saturday when protesters stormed a base belonging to Libya Shield, a grouping of militias aligned with the military that were tasked with helping to maintain security.
The protesters were demanding that the militias leave their camp and submit to the full authority of Libya's security forces.
It remains unclear which side fired first. Libyan officials have provided few details of the clashes.
Witnesses said some of the protesters brought weapons to the camp, which was the main Benghazi base for Libya Shield militiamen. The militiamen appeared outnumbered by hundreds of protesters outside the gates.
Hospital officials said protesters made up most of the dead. Many were buried on Sunday.
The officials spoke anonymously as they were not authorised to speak to reporters.
According to the director at the city's Jalaa Hospital Mohamed Belied, the deaths were caused by gunshots and explosive fragments. He said that dozens of people were wounded.
