In Benghazi, Libya's army liberates a ghost town

An airport becomes a war zone in Benghazi, Libya.

It's been the scene of a battle for control of the country.

Libyan forces manage to stop an offensive by armed Islamists who had tried to take control of the airport in Benina, just outside Benghazi.

It's just one battle in a wider chaos gripping the major oil producer three years after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

The regular army, like other Libyan institutions too weak to control rival armed factions, teamed up in Benghazi with forces of an ex-Gaddafi general who started his own campaign against Islamists in May.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEAD INVESTIGATOR AT AL SAQQA FORCES, SPECIAL FORCES OF THE LIBYAN ARMY, FADEL AL HASSI, SAYING:

"We managed to control the Benina area completely. Right now clashes continue after the crossroad. In a few hours it will be completely under the control of the special forces and the libyan Army. We are on our way to get our things back that were looted from our camp.