Libya’s first post-uprising prosecutor general shot dead

Abdelaziz al-Hasadi gunned during a visit with relatives in his hometown of Derna

By AFP 9 February 2014, 3:29 am

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The eastern Libyan town of Derna on March 15, 2011 (photo credit: AFP/File Alessio Romenzi)

BENGHAZI, Libya — Libya’s former prosecutor general was shot dead Saturday by unknown attackers in the eastern city of Derna, the justice minister said, the latest in a series of assassinations that have plagued the country.

Abdelaziz al-Hasadi was gunned down while visiting relatives in his hometown of Derna, Justice Minister Salah al-Marghani said.

Hasadi, who was widely considered to be an Islamist, was the first prosecutor general appointed after longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled and killed in the 2011 uprising. Hasadi resigned from the post in March 2013.

Since the collapse of Gaddafi’s autocratic regime, Libya has been plagued by violence, including a string of killings targeting top army and security officials as well as judges.

Libyan news agency LANA reported that another army officer was shot dead on Saturday in the eastern city of Benghazi, which has also been hit by unrest since 2011.