Libyan health officials say that gunmen have killed a retired police colonel and two sons of other retired high-ranking security officials, the latest in a series of assassinations in the country.

Fadia Al Burghthi, a hospital spokeswoman, says Abdel Fatah Al Barasi died after being shot in the head while in his car on Friday in the eastern city of Benghazi. Salah Abd Al Razak and Zakaria Abdullah Al Darsi, both sons of colonels, were also shot and killed in the street by assailants on Friday.

Libya has been plagued by assassinations and abductions of security officials blamed largely on militias that emerged during the country's 2012 civil war.

On Thursday, clashes between soldiers and a powerful militia erupted in Benghazi after the abduction of a military commander's son.