Libya mulls curfew for violence-hit Benghazi

Libya is considering imposing a curfew on the violence-wracked eastern city of Benghazi, its prime minister said on Wednesday, a day after a car bomb killed a police officer there. "We envision taking security measures in coordination with the General National Congress... that could include a curfew if we consider it necessary," Ali Zeidan told journalists on his return from a visit to Qatar. Zeidan said no decision had yet been taken on what would be a "partial curfew" covering only certain areas, but that it was "very probable." He added that the "army and police will be deployed in the streets and that draconian measures will be taken to maintain security." In the latest violence to hit the cradle of the 2011 revolt that ousted dictator Moamer Kadhafi, a car bomb killed a police officer in Benghazi on Tuesday. "A bomb was planted in the car of Sergeant Salah Miftah Wizry," a security official said. "The car exploded while he was coming home from a restaurant." On Monday, two policemen were hurt when an improvised bomb hit their car. The number of attacks targeting military and police officers, including ones who served the former regime, has increased in recent weeks despite efforts by the new authorities to boost security in the Mediterranean city. Benghazi has emerged as a hub for jihadist groups, including militants who killed US ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans in an attack on the US consulate last September 11. Many diplomatic missions and international organisations, such as the United Nations, have scaled down or ended operations there after envoys were targeted. Italy temporarily closed its consulate in Benghazi on Tuesday and pulled its staff out of the country following a failed gun attack on the consul.