People once connected to Moammar Gadhafi’s oppressive regime have been turning up dead in Benghazi, giving a jittery city a new case of nerves at the thought of death squads out for revenge, the New York Times reports. Three weeks ago, for example, a man was found lying in a field with his hands and feet bound, shot in the head. Ten days later, another man was found shot in the head in the same spot. Both had been Gadhafi interrogators known for their brutality.
A doctor at a local hospital says he’s seen at least a dozen bodies of men similarly killed execution-style. Rebel authorities have been trying to root out Gadhafi loyalists who might be trying to retake the city, but say they’re not behind the killings. “It’s our responsibility to protect people,” said an opposition justice coordinator. “It’s important the killers are punished. The law is most important.” He said his office was also looking into theft and other abuses from rebel groups. (More Benghazi stories.)