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Tunisia FM says Libyan gov't promises kidnapped Tunisians will be released

Xinhua, May 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

Tunisian foreign minister Taieb Baccouche told a parliament hearing late Tuesday that the Libyan authorities have promised that the Tunisian nationals held hostage in Libya will be released.

More than 60 Tunisians were captured by an armed group allied to the Libya Dawn forces controlling Tripoli on Saturday.

According to a source within the ministry, the mass kidnapping was in reaction to the arrest of one of the armed group's commanders by the Tunisian authorities.

Tunisian consul in Tripoli Brahim Rezgui told a Tunis radio station the group demanded the immediate release of the detained commander.

Earlier reports said the number of the abductees was about 170. However, Baccouche said the figure is a little over 60, adding that "they are safe."

Baccouche also said he does not trust the promise, but his ministry is closely following the situation and demanding updates from their Libyan counterparts.

"We are in constant touch with Libyan officials, and we will not accept that any of our Tunisian citizens remain kidnapped or captured in Libya. We will base our political relations with Libyan officials on this," added Baccouche. Endit