Tripoli, 1 April 2013:
A senior assistant to Ali Zeidan was kidnapped late on Sunday afternoon, officials at the Prime Minister’s press . . .[restrict]office have confirmed.
Ali Ghatus was returning from Misrata when he was seized at a checkpoint outside Tripoli.
An investigation has been launched but so far there is no information as to his whereabouts or his kidnappers. His car was left abandoned.
It is being suggested that Misrata militiamen determined to get the Political Isolation Law onto the statute books make be involved.
Last month a convoy of 200 vehicles from Misrata headed to Tripoli planning to try and force the authorities to pass the law and remove Zeidan from office. It was stopped outside Tripoli and the men persuaded to leave such matters to Congress. However, there remains a strong mood in Misrata and elsewhere that the law should be passed. It is linked to opposition to the prime minister. [/restrict]