Benghazi security chief killed

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TRIPOLI, Libya, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The top security chief in Benghazi, Libya, was assassinated Wednesday in front of his home, weeks after taking the position.

Col. Faraj al-Dursi was shot to death by unknown gunmen who opened fire in front of his home. The Tripoli Post reports he was pronounced dead from three gunshot wounds shortly after being taken to a medical center in Benghazi.

The report states that the attack is the 18th such incident in the region. Most of the killing has targeted former regime loyalists. Dursi was said to have served as a counter-narcotics official during the Moammar Gadhafi regime before joining in the uprising against Gadhafi.

Dursi was appointed to his position shortly after Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi left U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three of his staff members dead.

Washington had said al-Qaida may have played a role into the attacks. Security concerns were the subject of recent congressional investigations.

The State Department and representatives from the community of non-governmental organizations had raised concerns about security in eastern Libya in the months leading up the attack on the U.S. Consulate.