PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Libya denies report of attempted abduction of Chinese diplomat
Tripoli Libya (PANA) - The official spokesperson of the Libyan Foreign Affairs ministry of the national union government, Ahmed El-Arbed, has denied media reports which said that an abduction attempt was made on the Chargé d'Affaires of the embassy of China in Libya.
Mr. El-Arbed stated in a press release on Wednesday, saying that ''The Chargé d'Affaires of the embassy of China is safe and sound and is carrying out his normal diplomatic activities.
He indicated that he is in direct touch with the diplomat and assured that the diplomat and all other members of the Chinese mission in Libya are safe.
The Libyan spokesperson described the story as ''pure invention'' of lies.
An Arabic television channel and online press had reported that an abduction attempt was made on the diplomat after arriving at the Tripoli international airport on Tuesday evening.
Local Libyan news media, however, said that the attempt was foiled by the security elements of the airport.
The majority of embassies and diplomatic missions in Libya left the country in 2014, after the security situation there deteriorated following the military operation, ''Fajr Libya'', which caused a political and institutional division between the two governments - one established in Tripoli and recognized by the international community, and the other with headquarters in Beidah (east) and enjoying the support of the parliament and Libyan army under the command of Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
-0- PANA YY/IN/JSG/BBA/VAO 31Oct2018
Mr. El-Arbed stated in a press release on Wednesday, saying that ''The Chargé d'Affaires of the embassy of China is safe and sound and is carrying out his normal diplomatic activities.
He indicated that he is in direct touch with the diplomat and assured that the diplomat and all other members of the Chinese mission in Libya are safe.
The Libyan spokesperson described the story as ''pure invention'' of lies.
An Arabic television channel and online press had reported that an abduction attempt was made on the diplomat after arriving at the Tripoli international airport on Tuesday evening.
Local Libyan news media, however, said that the attempt was foiled by the security elements of the airport.
The majority of embassies and diplomatic missions in Libya left the country in 2014, after the security situation there deteriorated following the military operation, ''Fajr Libya'', which caused a political and institutional division between the two governments - one established in Tripoli and recognized by the international community, and the other with headquarters in Beidah (east) and enjoying the support of the parliament and Libyan army under the command of Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
-0- PANA YY/IN/JSG/BBA/VAO 31Oct2018
