Tripoli — Security in Libya continues to be a serious issue, despite the interim governments' repeated efforts to disarm militias and establish a professional army and police force.

Four vehicles belonging to members of the military police were blown up by IEDs Tuesday (July 16th) morning in Tripoli, newly-appointed government spokesman Abdussalam Sabri Sharief said.

One of the targeted vehicles carried the military police's logo, while the other three belonged to citizens working for the military police.

"This criminal act is contrary to law, morals and principles of Islam," Sharief said.

People should show a spirit of responsibility and restraint, allowing the competent authorities to do their duty according to the law, Sharief said, "especially that now we are in the month of mercy and forgiveness".

In another attack Monday night in Derna, unknown assailants killed Libyan Air Force Colonel Fathi Ali al-Ammami.

Gunmen fired at the victim, who headed the search and rescue division, as he opened his store.

Witnesses said the shots were fired from a black Chevrolet Optra car, Libya Herald reported. Al-Ammami had survived a previous assassination attempt.

A security source in Benghazi added that it was the same vehicle that was used in the assassination of a Derna judge. Last month, gunmen killed appeals court judge Mohammed Ibrahim Houidi, president of the local criminal division.

"We hope that the army will be activated and that the police will play their role," 39-year old journalist Miftah Belaid said. "We hear a lot about training missions abroad and at home, and therefore, we're waiting for these forces to be activated to impose their control on the ground.

"Violators must be punished, and cases must be investigated and covered by the media so they may be a lesson for others," he added.

In turn, Tripoli citizen Leila said that "in spite of what's happening in Derna, we don't hear that there are investigations into such cases. We also hear that people get killed while security forces have no presence; something that makes gunmen proceed with their operations because there are no deterrents."

"The strange thing is that such blasts took place using military police vehicles; something which shows that this is an act of revenge in a clear absence of security," 22-year old medical student Emad Solayman said.

"As to Derna, the government is demanding more money to execute development and infrastructure projects there. It looks as if the state wants to create security through projects, and that it fears having a presence there," he said.