Footage has emerged on the internet showing members of an Islamist militia in Libya taking a dip in a swimming pool belonging to the United States embassy in the capitol Tripoli.

The US had closed its embassy after fierce clashes broke out between Libyan government troops and Islamist militias calling themselves the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries. Scores of people have been killed in the fighting, which also prompted Turkey to evacuate its staff.

The video appears to provide more evidence of claims that Islamists subsequently took over at least part of the embassy compound - although the US government insists that they have not yet managed to break into the main embassy building.

Libya has been wracked by unrest between rival tribal and political factions since western forces ousted long-time dictator Muammar Ghaddafi in 2011.