Assailants attacked an Islamist party office in Tripoli and a soldier was killed in fighting in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi yesterday, officials said, in a wave of unrest since the killing of a political activist last week.

A car later exploded in central Benghazi but the blast was minor and no-one was hurt, a security official said.

The death of prominent Muslim Brotherhood critic Abdelsalam al-Mosmary who was shot on Friday, has triggered violent demonstrations and attacks on the movement’s offices in Benghazi and Tripoli.

On Sunday, buildings used by the judiciary in Benghazi were bombed, followed by overnight clashes between an armed group and military special forces. Violence and lawlessness, much of it involving former rebel groups, has hobbled governance in swathes of the North African oil producer since the war that toppled Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Early yesterday an unidentified group attacked the headquarters in Tripoli of the al-Watan (Nation) political party, led by former Islamist militia leader Abdelha-kim Belhadj.

“They smashed windows, shot at the door locks to open them and threw Molotov cocktails inside. The damage is serious. No one was injured,” Jamal Ashour, head of the party’s political office, said.

Fighting erupted overnight in Benghazi’s western Gwesha district, hours after Sunday’s bombings, in which 43 people were wounded, according to state news agency Lana, citing the health minister.