Heavy fighting has broken out near the Libyan port city of Benghazi between government soldiers and Islamist militants.<br /><br />A navy ship is reported to have been hit and at least 13 people have been killed. <br /><br />The latest battle is part of a wider crackdown by the army on militants blamed for an assault in 2012 on the former US consulate, in which the ambassador was killed.<br /><br />Many residents are reported to have fled the area, with the Red Crescent organisation evacuating more than 50 foreign workers.<br /><br />Libya is now divided into different rival tribes and political factions, with two governments attempting to assert control.
