Britain says convoy attacked in Libya

TRIPOLI — A British Embassy convoy was attacked yesterday in the Libyan port of Benghazi, the Foreign Of ce in London said.

A spokesman gave no details of the attack, except to say that all staff involved in the incident were accounted for.

“We can con rm that there was an attack on a British Embassy convoy in Benghazi this afternoon. All staff are accounted for. We are liaising closely with the Libyan authorities,” he said.

This was the latest of a spate of attacks on foreign targets in the eastern Libyan city that was the cradle of unrest last year saw the end of Muammar Gadda ’s rule. It is now a hot spot for violence, with arms readily available and security forces struggling to assert their authority.

“There was an attack on a British Embassy convoy this afternoon in Benghazi,” an embassy spokeswoman said.

“All staff are accounted for. We are liaising closely with the Libyan authorities.”

The spokeswoman declined to give further details, and it was not clear if anyone in the convoy had been injured.

Five days ago, an explosive device was dropped from a passing car outside the of ces of the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi. The blast that followed slightly damaged the gate in front of the building.

— Agencies