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Tripoli, 22 July:
Almost one week after the release of two Misratan journalists captured in Bani Walid on 8 July, demonstrations have . . .[restrict]been held for the release of four more Misratans still being held in the town.
Omran Shaban and Mohammed Al-Ouyb, members of the Libya Shield brigade, along with Abdul Aziz Harous, an independent journalist, have reportedly been held in Misrata since 12 July.
It has subsequently come to light that a fourth man, Mohammed Harissa, whose occupation has not been verified, is also being kept hostage.
Both members of the shield brigade are said to have been injured after their vehicle came under attack on the approach to Bani Walid, although the other two men are understood to be in good health.
Dozens of protesters, including the two recently released journalists, Yusuf Baadi and Abdul Qader Fusuq, gathered in front of the Hall of Martyrs in Misrata’s main square on Friday evening and Saturday morning calling for the men’s release and warning that the town would be forced to take action if the responsible authorities did not.
“We put responsibility on the government, the NTC, the media and the local authorities of Misrata”, a spokesman for the protesters said in a statement. “We ask all the authorities in Libya to stop using tribalism as a generic and final solution to all problems and conflicts”.
“We also ask the government and the NTC to either bear responsibility and solve this issue or else to step aside and let Libyans solve their problems with their own hands”.
The protesters said they would consider taking action unilaterally if the government did not resolve the crisis and secure the release of the hostages within 48 hours.
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