Tripoli, 2 April 2013:
Spanish police are investigating the suspected murder of the First Secretary at the Libyan embassy in Madrid. Fawzi Zimriq, aged 55, was found unconscious by her younger daughter at the family’s home in the Salamanca district of the Spanish capital last Thursday.
It was initially thought that Zimriq had died of natural causes. She had reportedly been suffering from a number of conditions, including diabetes. However an autopsy on Saturday revealed signs of a blow to her forehead and marks of strangulation. The diplomat lived in Madrid with her husband, son and two daughters, whom police have been questioning along with neighbours.
The Libya ambassador, Mohammed al-Faqih, quoted by the newspaper, El Mundo said that Zimriq had not reported any threats nor security concerns. The Spanish authorities had this evening not yet agreed to the release of the diplomat’s body for repatriation to Libya. [/restrict]