( CNN ) -- A Libyan minister was shot dead in the first assassination of a transitional government official since dictator Moammar Gadhafi was ousted from power nearly three years ago . Gunmen driving a car opened fire on Deputy Industry Minister Hassan al-Darouei , killing him instantly while he was visiting his hometown of Sirte , a Libyan defense ministry official said . The unknown men fired on the minister near a market on Saturday evening in the Mediterranean city some 450 kilometers ( 280 miles ) east of the coastal capital Tripoli . His body has since been moved to a morgue , the defense official said on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to the media . State news agency LANA said al-Darouei was shot several times . Nearly three years after the start of the popular uprising that ended Gadhafi 's 42-year rule , Libya is still plagued by violence and targeted killings as a myriad of armed groups often do as they please . Country awash with weapons . With plentiful weapons left over from the 2011 war , militias , former rebel fighters and militants often resort to force to impose their demands on the weak central authorities . Prime Minister Ali Zeidan 's government , weakened by political infighting and fragile state security forces , is struggling to impose law and order . For nearly six months , the North African country has seen crude oil production and exports slump due to protests and blockades of oil fields and ports , hurting state coffers . In the eastern city of Benghazi , cradle of the 2011 uprising , there has been a string of killings targeting security officials . Sirte was the last bastion Gadhafi 's fight to hold onto power after the capital fell to rebel fighters . He was found hiding in a drain pipe and was killed on October 20 , 2011 . Al-Darouei was a member of the National Transitional Council , the political wing of the 2011 rebellion against Gadhafi 's rule . He held the office deputy minister for industry since the transitional government was set up . CNN 's Greg Botelho contributed to this report .
NEW : Deputy industry chief shot several times , Libyan media reports . Killing is the first death of government official since he died in 2011 . He was shot dead by gunmen near a market in the port city , defense ministry says . Sirte was the hometown of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi .