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Gunmen fire on Italian consul

January 13, 2013

Gunmen have fired shots at the car of the Italian consul in the Libyan city of Benghazi with no reported injuries. The attack comes four months after the US ambassador was killed by Islamist militants in the city.

https://p.dw.com/p/17J3U
A security officer points to gun shots on the window of the Italian consul's car after it was shot by unknown assailants in Benghazi January 12, 2013. An Italian consul came under fire in his car in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Saturday but was unhurt, the Italian Foreign Ministry said. REUTERS/Esam Al-Fetori (LIBYA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW) // eingestellt von se
Image: Reuters

A spokesman for the Italian Foreign Ministry said that Consul Guido De Sanctis came under fire on Saturday while travelling in an armored vehicle in Libya's eastern city Benghazi.

The spokesman confirmed Sanctis, who has been Italy's Benghazi consul since 2011, was unhurt.

Benghaziwas also the site of a Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the US diplomatic consulate that killed four Americans, including the US ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens.

American officials say militants with ties to al Qaeda were most likely involved in the attack, however there was no immediate indication of who was behind Saturday's attack.

Benghazihas also seen recent attacks against British, Red Cross and United Nations affiliates. Italy is the former colonial power in Libya.

Since the uprising against former leader Moammar Gadhafi in February 2011, Libya's new elected leaders have struggled to enforce their authority.

hc/slk (Reuters, AP)