BEIJING (AP) — The Chinese Embassy in Libya says a Chinese engineer has died from gunshot wounds after he was taken away by hooded militants in the eastern city of Benghazi.

The embassy says the engineer’s company reported the abduction Tuesday afternoon and that he was found unconscious along a road hours later. He was declared dead from gunshot wounds later in a hospital.

Violence has surged in Benghazi in recent weeks as a revolt by renegade Gen. Khalifa Hifter against Islamists who dominate Libya’s politics threatens to spiral into an outright battle for power.

The Chinese embassy has warned its citizens not to go to restive areas.

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