TRIPOLI - Over 1,000 convicts have escaped from a prison near Libya's eastern city of Benghazi on Saturday, local media reported.

The mass outbreak came after a fierce riot at al-Kuifiya prison, according to witnesses.

Some of the escapees were recaptured by the police and security forces, said some witnesses; while no official statements concerning the number of those who successfully fled are available at the moment.

It is unclear whether the prisoners have got external help, and whether the incident is linked to the ongoing demonstrations across the country.

On Saturday, protesters took to the street in Libya to denounce the killing of Abdelsalam al-Mosmary, a prominent activist and critic of the Muslim Brotherhood, who was shot dead on Friday. The Muslim Brotherhood is accused of being behind the assassination, while many demonstrators said the government is slow in responding to violence.

Two military officials were also killed in Benghazi on Friday.

Nearly two years after the civil war that ended the rule of ex- leader Muammar Gaddafi, Libya is yet to return to tranquility due to a weak central government and such issues as disarmament.