Jordan ambassador to Libya kidnapped [16/April/2014] LIBYA, April 16 (Saba)- Jordan's ambassador to Libya has been kidnapped on Tuesday by masked gunmen in Tripoli.

Masked men in civilian clothes driving a BMW and a pick-up truck surrounded the ambassador's car, immediately opening fire.

The ambassador's driver was shot in the leg in the attack and has since been hospitalised. One of the ambassador's guards was shot in the arm.

The men, who spoke the Libyan dialect, according to the Libyan foreign ministry, then forced the ambassador into one of their vehicles and drove away at high speed.

The masked gunmen demanded an Islamist militant be released from a Jordanian jail in exchange for the diplomat's freedom.

Essam Baitelmel, a member of the Libyan team investigating the abduction, said the kidnappers had demanded the release of Mohamed Dersi, a Libyan Islamist militant jailed for life in 2007 for plotting to blow up the main airport in Jordan.

MD



