Benghazi security chief assassinated

The security chief in the east Libyan city of Benghazi was assassinated late Tuesday, a security official told AFP.

Unknown persons opened fire from a car at Fraj al-Dersi in front of his home. He was hit by three bullets and died shortly after being taken to Benghazi medical center, the official said, asking not to be named.

Dersi was appointed shortly after an attack on the U.S. consulate September 11 which cost the lives of U.S. ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans.

He had occupied leading posts under the regime of Muammar Qaddafi, including anti-drugs chief, before joining the revolt against the former dictator when it started in February 2011.

Several recent assassinations in eastern Libya, mostly of police or army officers who served under Qaddafi, have been attributed to radical Islamists.