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At least 12 Egyptians killed in Libya by human smugglers: ministry

Xinhua, April 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed Wednesday that at least 12 Egyptian illegal immigrants were killed in clashes with smuggling gangsters in Bani Walid town in neighboring turmoil-stricken Libya.

"The Egyptian embassy contacted the forensic authorities in Bani Walid to examine the bodies in order to identify the victims and return them back home," Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement.

The Egyptian embassy in Libya, which works from Cairo due to Libya's security conditions, has been in touch with the local authorities in Bani Walid and the presidential council in Tripoli for information about the Egyptian victims.

Libya has been suffering escalating violence since the 2011 turmoil that toppled and killed former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

In mid-January, 20 Egyptians held captive by Libyan militants were released and received by Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi at Cairo international airport.

"We repeat warning about the danger of illegal infiltration to Libya and engagement in acts that may endanger the lives of Egyptian citizens," said the Egyptian foreign ministry's spokesman.

Despite the Egyptian government's travel warnings, the neighboring Arab country is an ideal destination for thousands of Egyptian workers, mostly work in the construction sector, due to tight economic conditions back home.

In February 2015, the Islamic State (IS) militant group released a video showing beheading of 20 Egyptian Christians near the Libyan city of Sirte. Endit