Thousands March Against Islamic Militias In Benghazi

Demonstrators have rallied in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi to protest against Islamist militias, which have retained significant power since the uprising that toppled Muammar Qaddafi last year.

The protesters, estimated in their thousands, demanded that the central government disband the militias.

Some demonstrators carried banners paying tribute to U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who was killed alongside three other Americans in an attack on the U.S. Consulate in the city earlier this month.

The United States says the attack during a protest against a U.S.-made film that insults Islam was a "terrorist attack."

The Islamist Ansar al-Sharia group had called for a rival demonstration on September 21 in Benghazi to protest against the "Innocence of Muslims" film.

That protest reportedly drew hundreds of people.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP