Irregular forces loyal to former army general Khalifa Haftar stand by an armed vehicle during clashes with Islamist militants in the eastern city of Benghazi.

BENGHAZI — Libya’s Red Crescent called on Thursday for a ceasefire in the eastern city of Benghazi to allow the evacuation of families trapped by street fighting between Islamist militants and pro-government forces supported by local youths.

Banks, government offices, supermarkets and some hospitals were closed in Libya’s second largest city on the second day of the clashes. War planes bombed suspected Islamist positions.

The port city, home to several oil firms, is caught up in a chaotic struggle for control between an alliance of Islamist militia groups and the army, amid turmoil in the oil producer three years after the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi.

Troops loyal to former general Khalifa Haftar and allied to the army launched an offensive on Wednesday to regain ground after Ansar al-Sharia and other Islamist groups overran some army camps and closed on the airport.

Residents joined Haftar’s forces, trying to dismantle checkpoints set up by the Islamists. Gunfire could be heard in several areas, forcing residents to stay indoors.

“We urge all parties for a ceasefire, if only for one hour, to allow the evacuation of families from their houses,” the Benghazi branch of the Red Crescent said in a statement.

“We have received tens of messages from citizens … asking for the evacuation of families,” it said on it Facebook website.

Haftar’s forces and the army said they were in full control of the February 17 militia camp, previously controlled by Islamists. Pictures posted on Facebook pages showed soldiers in a courtyard of the camp.