U.N. voices ‘deep concern’ over Libya unrest

The U.N. mission in Libya voiced “deep concern” on Tuesday over the near-daily violence plaguing the North African country, a day after seven Egyptian Christians were found murdered.

The U.N. Support Mission in Libya called on authorities to make every effort to rein in the rampant unrest, which has hit not only foreign targets but also Libyan civilians and security personnel, as well as polling stations in last week's election to a constituent assembly.

“UNSMIL expresses its deep concern about the continued violence - including assassinations, bombings, kidnappings and attacks in the east and other Libyan areas,” it said in a statement.

The attacks have targeted “judges, members of the security forces, activists, civilians and Arab and foreign nationals, as well as polling centers and buildings housing government and diplomatic missions,” it said.

“UNSMIL calls upon officials and all forces to do their utmost to put an end to all acts which threaten stability in Libya, put the security of its people at risk, violate human dignity and undermine the values that Libyans uphold as they aspire to build a state based on the rule of law and the respect for human rights.”

The bodies of the seven Egyptian Christians were found near Libya's second city of Benghazi on Monday a day after they were kidnapped from their homes in the eastern region.

Benghazi, cradle of the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed veteran dictator Moammar Qaddafi, has seen near-daily attacks on security and other targets as the weak central government has struggled to rein in former rebels.

On Tuesday, a rocket-propelled grenade struck near the Tunisian consulate, one of the few foreign diplomatic missions still operating in the city after a September 2012 attack on the U.S. mission killed ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.