REUTERS: TRIPOLI: At least one person was killed in overnight fighting in Benghazi, a security official said, as an upsurge in violence in the eastern Libyan city since last week's killing of a prominent political activist showed no signs of abating.

 

The clashes erupted in the western Gwesha district between an armed group and military special forces, who stood guard hours after explosions rocked the city in attacks on buildings used by the judiciary.

 

"Clashes broke out between special forces and an unknown armed group," Mohammed al-Hijazy, a spokesman for Benghazi security operations, said by telephone on Monday. "At least one soldier was killed. The special forces have now retaken control."

 

The cradle of the 2011 uprising against Moammar Gadhafi, Benghazi has in the last three days witnessed explosions, assassinations, violent demonstrations and a mass jail break.

 

Armed violence and lawlessness, caused in part by often uncontrolled militia groups, has hobbled governance in large areas of the oil-producing North African state following the 2011 war that toppled Gaddafi.

 

Thirteen people were slightly wounded in one of Sunday's blasts which targeted a Benghazi court. Demonstrators later took to the streets to denounce the violence.

 

Hundreds of protesters had attacked the Benghazi and Tripoli offices of Libya's Muslim Brotherhood and the headquarters of a liberal coalition in the capital after demonstrations turned violent late on Friday.

 

Those protests were prompted by the killing of a prominent critic of the Brotherhood, Abdelsalam al-Mosmary, shot after leaving a Benghazi mosque. Two military officers were also killed in the city on Friday.

 

On Saturday, 1,117 inmates escaped during a riot in Kuafiya prison on the outskirts of Benghazi. Officials said on Sunday that about 100 prisoners had been recaptured.

 

Benghazi has seen a wave of violence since last year with attacks on security forces as well as foreign targets, including an assault on the U.S. mission last September in which the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed.

 

Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has said he would reorganise the government to cope with the "urgent" situation in the country.