Gunmen have abducted five Egyptian diplomats and embassy employees in the Libyan capital, a spokesman for Libya’s foreign ministry said.

Clashes have erupted in Libya's capital as soldiers and government-affiliated militias attempt to regain control of a base occupied by armed gunmen after a deadly militia attack on protesters the day before.

Libyan militiamen have attacked peaceful protesters demanding the disbanding of the country’s armed groups, killing at least 22 people as they opened fire on the march with heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.