Tripoli, May 13 (EFE).- At least 12 people died and an undetermined number were wounded in a car bomb explosion Monday outside a hospital in the eastern city of Benghazi, a Libyan security forces official told Efe. Women and children were among the victims. The explosion, which could be heard several kilometers (miles) away, occurred around midday, the peak time for traffic in the area, which has made it harder for security forces to determine the exact number of people injured, the source said. The blast wave damaged buildings and stores near the hospital.

The United States has moved military forces closer to Libya since the Benghazi attack so they will be ready to respond to threats against diplomatic personnel, a Pentagon spokesman said Monday. "We are prepared to respond if necessary, if conditions deteriorate or if we were called upon," spokesman George Little told reporters. "Obviously we have moved assets and personnel," he said, without offering specifics.

Oil giant BP said Sunday it had pulled some non-essential overseas staff out of Libya because of concerns about the political situation, following the lead of the US and British embassies. In a statement, BP said the decision to withdraw fewer than a dozen people was a "precautionary measure" following advice from the Foreign Office (FCO). Tensions have risen in Libya since ex-rebels besieged two ministries at the end of last month in a row over a law to ban officials who served under slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi from holding office.