BENGHAZI: Shops and schools closed across Benghazi Tuesday as residents of Libya’s second city responded to calls for civil disobedience to protest deadly clashes between radicals and the army.

The call by the city council came as a source said Defense Ministry officials were in talks with jihadist group Ansar Al-Sharia on an offer of safe passage out of the city on condition its fighters leave their weapons behind.

The army clashed with jihadists on Monday after one of its patrols was attacked near the headquarters of Ansar Al-Sharia, a group blamed for the killing of the US ambassador in 2012.

The Health Ministry said seven people were killed in the fighting and around 50 wounded.

On Tuesday, the army deployed across the eastern city, taking control of key roads, an AFP correspondent reported.

Troops were also in control of the Ansar Al-Sharia headquarters in the city of Ajdabiya, south of Benghazi, which residents had attacked late Monday, forcing jihadists to flee, before handing it over to the army.

The city council called on residents to show their frustration through three days of “civil disobedience,” including strikes.

Defense Minister Abdallah Al-Teni said his ministry was in touch with Ansar Al-Sharia to find a solution that would avoid further bloodshed.