Libyan top army general shot dead in BenghaziAugust 11, 2012 - 12:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Libyan army general, with a senior defence ministry role, has been shot dead in the eastern city of Benghazi, BBC News reported. General Mohamed Hadia al-Feitouri was returning home from Friday, August 10 prayers when a group of gunmen pulled up in a car and opened fire, his son said. In recent months, Benghazi has seen a spate of killings of security officials who, like Gen Hadia, served under former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The incident comes a day after Libya's new interim assembly assumed power. The historic June elections to the body - the first free vote in decades - faced boycott calls in Benghazi. Some political groups in oil-rich eastern Libya, where the uprising that overthrew Col Gaddafi last year originated, fear domination by the capital Tripoli and the west. Gen Hadia was one of the first military officers to defect to the rebellion, the BBC's Rana Jawad reports from Tripoli. He was the defence ministry official responsible for ammunition and weapons. The identity of the attackers and the motives behind the killing remain unclear, our correspondent says. Last week, the military intelligence service's offices in Benghazi were hit by an explosion, but there were no casualties. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |