" When I was there I didn ' t see any of the people use them. "
protests last year
Benghazi was the scene of deadly anti-militia
The demonstrators were demanding the brigade leave its premises, army spokesman Abdallah al- Shaafi told the BBC.
" There is a special force now that will be deployed," he adds.
Spokesman for the army chief of staff Ali al-Sheikhi described the Libya Shield brigade as " a reserve force under the Libyan army ", speaking to Libya ' s Lana news agency.
He said an attack on the brigade " is considered an attack against a legal entity ".
The latest clashes are reminiscent of Benghazi ' s deadly anti-militia protests last year, says the BBC ' s Rana Jawad in Tripoli, when tens of thousands took to the streets to eject a number of armed groups that they blamed for the continuing lawlessness in the city.
This followed the deadly attack against the US consulate in Benghazi that killed four people, including US ambassador Chris Stevens.
Some officials condemned the attack on some of the largest brigades in the city, saying they were operating under the ministry of defence, our correspondent says.
Struggling to form its own professional army and police force, the new administration in Libya has often given the brigade licence to intervene in tribal conflicts.
However, residents consider the brigade to be an armed group operating outside the remit of the army.
Growing resentment towards armed militias was compounded after militiamen laid siege to various government ministries in Tripoli in April.
Former rebel fighters surrounded the foreign and justice ministries in the Libyan capital demanding the expulsion of officials who worked in the government during the Gaddafi era.
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