Kidnapped IOM official freed in southern Libya

TRIPOLI, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The third kidnapped official of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been freed two days after the successful rescue of her two colleagues, a Libyan security official revealed on Tuesday.

The official was released by the gunmen who kidnapped her to a farm near Sabha in southern Libya, after the security services managed to locate the place, said Sa'adi Emhemmed, Director of the Security Directorate of the southern Libyan city Sabha.

"After the location was identified, tribal elders were contacted and informed that those involved in the kidnapping were identified. We asked them to release her or we would be forced to raid the farm," Emhemmed added.

The kidnappers then responded to the tribal elders and released the hostage without confrontation with security forces.

"Investigation revealed that the motive of the kidnapping was ransom," Emhemmed said, pointing out that the kidnappers had criminal records and are being prosecuted by the Security Directorate.

Gunmen kidnapped three IOM officials, two Libyans and one Spanish of Palestinian origin, in southern Libya a few days ago. Libyan security on Saturday rescued the two Libyans.

The IOM in Libya is carrying out a number of field visits to southern Libya, as a part of the organization's voluntary repatriation program for illegal immigrants from Libya to their countries of origin.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos, following the uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. Enditem