Benghazi: A Libya lawmaker kidnapped this week in the eastern city of Tobruk, home of the internationally recognised parliament, has been released, a parliamentary source said on Sunday.
“Parliamentarian Mohammad Al Raed was released on Saturday thanks to the mediation of dignitaries and tribal leaders from Tobruk and the efforts of the security forces,” he said. He was “in good health”, he added.
Raed was seized Wednesday on his way to the airport after being sworn in at the parliament.
The man holding him demanded the transfer of his two sons, who were convicted in a drugs case, from a prison in Misrata, east of Tripoli, to another one in the far east of the country.
Raed was elected in 2014 in Misrata but had been boycotting the parliament until this week.
Libya has been in political turmoil and rocked by violence since the 2011 toppling of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Since the summer of 2014, the country has had two rival administrations, with the recognised authorities based in the east and a militia-backed authority in Tripoli.
World powers have urged Libya’s warring factions to endorse a unity government formed under a peace deal backed by the United Nations.
The recognised parliament has rejected an initial lineup and a proposal for a “more restrained” unity government is expected next week.
