BENGHAZI — A Libyan air force officer was killed Wednesday, April 8, and his wife and daughter were seriously injured, when a bomb placed under their car exploded in the eastern city of Benghazi, officials said.

Benghazi was the cradle of the 2011 revolution that ousted long-time dictator Moamer Gaddafi, and has since been plagued by violence that has killed dozens of members of the security forces, judges and foreigners.

Wednesday was the fourth day of a general strike to denounce the lack of security, as well as to call for the suspension of parliament and early elections.

Abdelhamid Tahar al-Imam, whose rank was not given, “was mortally wounded by the explosion,” a source at the Benghazi Medical Centre said.

“His wife and daughter, who were accompanying him, were gravely wounded and are in intensive care,” he added.

The explosion occurred in the center of the city, and angry residents blocked streets and set tires on fire in protest.