By Libya Herald reporters.
Benghazi, 23 December 2014:
As fighting continued today in Benghazi, a large pall of smoke hung over the city . . .[restrict]from a blazing warehouse in the port, while the army claimed that one of its men captured by Ansar Al-Sharia had been beheaded.
Fadel Al-Hassi, head of the special investigation unit in Saiqa told the Libya Herald that on Monday a patrol had discovered a severed head in the Bouatni area. It was identified as that of Saleh Attia Elmshaiti, a soldier who had disappeared during fighting in the area on Saturday.
A series of grisly pictures posted on social media appeared to show Elmshaiti after his execution, with his head near his body.
Meanwhile, heavy fighting has continued into this evening in Leithi where the army is using tanks and artillery to move in on what has long been an Islamist stronghold. Power has been cut to much of the neighbourhood.
The conflict around the port, which is held by militia of the Benghazi Revolutionaries Shoura Council has been at a lower level. Seized in June this year, the harbour is proving a challenging objective, with well-positioned snipers holding up troops.
During exchanges of fire today, a warehouse was hit on a wharf that divides the port. The resulting blaze sent up a huge column of smoke. Though at least one vessel was moored not far away, it is not reported to have been damaged in the blaze. [/restrict]
