Gunmen shoot officer dead in Benghazi

Libyan security officials say unidentified gunmen have shot dead a military officer in the eastern city of Benghazi.

The assailants targeted Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Sweiry, who was working in the military’s data department, on Thursday in al-Birkah district in Benghazi, the officials said.

A day earlier, gunmen killed an army commando in Benghazi, a health official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

On December 20, gunmen shot dead a top Libyan military intelligence official outside his home in the eastern city of Derna.

“Unknown assailants opened fire at Colonel Fethallah al-Gaziri, head of Benghazi military intelligence, and killed him,” a Libyan security official said.

Gaziri, who was appointed head of military intelligence in the restive city earlier this month, was in Derna to attend a relative’s wedding, the official said on the condition of anonymity.

Libyans rose up against Muammar Gaddafi’s four-decade rule in February 2011 and deposed him in August 2011. He was slain on October 20 of the same year.

Since 2011, Benghazi has been the scene of numerous attacks and political assassinations amidst increasing power struggle among several militias who fought against Gaddafi during the uprising.

The former rebels refuse to lay down their arms, despite efforts by the central government to impose law and order.

Many countries have closed their consulates in Benghazi and some foreign airlines have stopped flying there.

Over the past few months, the capital Tripoli and its suburbs have been hit by violent clashes between rival militias.

In a recent interview with Press TV, political commentator Johnny Miller said that Libya is on the verge of becoming a failed state.

Miller, who is a freelance journalist based in London, made the remarks on October 11, a day after armed militants abducted Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan from a hotel in Tripoli, but freed him hours later.

Libya “really is close to being a failed state. I mean you have the situation where the government is very, very weak. You have the streets ruled by militias, affiliated with the government, but also acting unilaterally by themselves,” he said.