By Ahmed Elumami and Houda Mzioudet.
Tripoli, 12 December 2013:
Azziziya Congressman Abdulmajid Al-Zantouti has been abducted.
Confirming the kidnapping, the General National Congress’ . . .[restrict]spokesman, Omar Hemidan, told the Libya Herald that the congressman had been out last night with friends but then the family lost contact with him. There was not enough information so far, he said, as to know who was behind the abduction.
It is widely believed, however, to have been in retaliation for the seizure the previous evening of a number of Kikla officials: the head of the local council, a member of the Shura Council and seven other local officials. It is alleged they were abducted by Warshefana forces.
That kidnapping is said to have been in retaliation for the abduction of a Warshefana local accused of having earlier killed a Kikla man, a member of Kikla Military Council, Belgassem Al-Kikli, was reported as saying by the Libyan news agency LANA.
Attempts to release the men were underway, LANA added.
According to Hemidan, the GNC and the government are looking into the latest developments regarding Zantouti. The Deputy Interior Minister, Bahloul Al-Sayed, was also investigating the incident.
There is a long history of rivalry between the Warshifana and its Kikla and Zawia neighbours. [/restrict]
