Series of killings in Libya's east target activists, officers, journalists

CAIRO – Libyan security officials say apparently targeted killings over two days have left 10 rights activists, journalists, and army and police officers dead in the country's east.

The officials also said Saturday that three others targeted survived assassination attempts in the eastern city of Benghazi. Among the slain Thursday and Friday were two activist bloggers, a journalist and four current and former security officers.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

The identity of the killers was not immediately known. Islamic radical militias, however, have been blamed for frequent killings of secular activists, judges, moderate clerics, policemen and soldiers in Benghazi, Libya's second largest city.

Libya is witnessing the worst bout of violence since the 2011 ouster of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.