By Hind Turki

In an unfortunate fatal accident on Tuesday, a Libyan guard was reportedly crushed to death by the entrance gate of the US embassy in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The incident occurred when the gate lethally dislodged from its pathway and fell on the guard.

The embassy, which is located in Walie Al-Ahed road in the Sidi Slim area, has a large, heavy gate that bars the entrance and is manned by guards for security measures.

The gate is intended to be controlled mechanically, however due to damages allegedly sustained by the mechanism, the gate has to be manually opened and shut by the security guards throughout the day.

A spokesman for Ambassador Stevens contacted by The Tripoli Post said: "The employee was a valued member of the embassy who served the embassy with courage, dedication and distinction. We have conveyed our heartfelt condolences and sympathy to his family and friend.Our thoughts and prayers are with them."

The official details of the incident, including the identification of the victim, were not released by the embassy.

However, sources told The Tripoli Post that the accident occurred at around 3:30 pm on Tuesday in the presence of several witnesses, including three Libyan guards and two American embassy employees, as well as the ambassador himself.

An investigation into the victim's death is currently being carried out. The question is being raised as to the safety of the facility. The embassy has apparently offered some form of compensation to the victim's family.

Sources have said that the parts needed to repair the gate's mechanical system were ordered a year ago but have still not arrived.

Whether the embassy intends to take future safety measures regarding the gate remains unclear, however health and safety concerns for the security employees continue to be an issue.