UN expresses concern over disappearance of Libya's military prosecutor

TRIPOLI, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called the disappearance of Libya's military prosecutor - believed to have been kidnapped by gunmen last week - a "blow to the rule of law," highlighting the ongoing poor security situation in the country.

"UNSMIL is concerned about the disappearance of the Military Prosecutor Masoud Erhouma on March 15 in Tripoli and calls on authorities to investigate his whereabouts, clarify his status and ensure his safety," UNSMIL said in a statement on Monday.

"Forced disappearance, unlawful arrest, abduction constitute a serious blow to the rule of law," it added.

Local media said that gunmen kidnapped Erhouma in front of his house in the Libyan capital Tripoli. No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping so far.

The Libyan National Human Rights Commission described Erhouma's kidnapping as a "grave indicator of the lack of respect for judicial bodies in the capital Tripoli."

"As the military prosecutor is the secretary of the criminal branch of the military establishment, this crime committed against him in the capital indicates that the security situation in Tripoli is very bad as a result of the increasing indications of kidnapping, arbitrary and illegal detention, and forced disappearances," the commission said in a statement.

The commission also called on the attorney general to "urgently investigate the kidnapping, pursue those responsible, and ensure that they are not unpunished."

Following the 2011 uprising which toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime, Libya has been suffering insecurity and political division, with divided authorities in the country's eastern and western regions. Enditem