by Hadi Fornaji.
Tripoli, 17 July:
Though deploring the abduction of Libya’s olympic committee president, the British foreign secretary William Hague has hailed . . .[restrict]the progress that Libya has made since the revolution as “inspiring.”
Speaking during a recent visit to Tripoli, the minister said “something inspiring has happened here.” He said that the Libyan people’s initial fight for freedom had been reflected in the recent elections.
“We have seen the same commitment to freedom and democracy from people voting in large numbers, taking part in a free election which all international observers thought was well conducted.” He added that this was “a tremendous success story.”
When asked about the continuing security challenges, including the recent abduction of the olympic committee president Nabil Elalem, he admitted that “there are still formidable problems.”
He said: “Among the most urgent tasks of a new government is to deal with the integration of militias, to bring in proper border security, to tackle such lawlessness, and that will be the basis of economic success as well as political stability in this country.” He added: “We can look forward to strong relations between the UK and Libya.”
Elalem was abducted from his car on Sunday, by men in military-style uniforms, and driven away in a jeep. The kidnappers have not been identified and it is not clear why Elalem was taken. [/restrict]
