One Libyan army soldier was killed and 16 others were injured in clashes with militants in Benghazi, the second largest city in the country.

The clashes occurred in different places in the eastern city in the past two days.

A hospital in the city received the body of a soldier, identified as Mohamed Mahmoud, said a spokeswoman for the hospital to which 16 injured troops were moved for treatment.

Benghazi witnessed a fierce fighting between the army and Benghazi Revolutionaries Shura Council militia.

Since the fall of the Gaddafi regime, Libya has been plagued by violence, with rival political factions and militias struggling for power