By Ashraf Abdul Wahab.
Tripoli, 13 March 2014:
Two Central Bank of Libya (CBL) employees kidnapped on Monday were released today amid widespread . . .[restrict]anger over deteriorating security conditions for bank staff.
The employees, one a clerk and the other a security guard, were kidnapped by gunmen in Tripoli’s Garyan district. They had been transporting foreign currency between CBL branches in the capital.
CBL workers and employees from various commercial banks yesterday protested outside the CBL headquarters about the kidnappings and worsening security for bank staff.
The protesters said unless proper security measures were taken they would be left with no option but to refuse certain duties, such as transporting currency. They demanded that the relevant authorities do more to prevent these incidents and added that the security challenges were having a knock-on effect on customers.
Also on Monday, armed robbers attacked Al-Jomhouriya Bank in south Tripoli’s Swani district. The group opened fire inside the building and managed to steal LD 700 before fleeing the scene.
Last week the kidnapping in Tripoli of three members of staff from Jufra’s Rural (Reefi) Bank prompted the bank’s manager to resign.
Head of Tripoli Local Council Sadat Elbadri said two days ago that kidnappings had become commonplace and were occurring in the capital on a daily basis. He called for a renewed bid to cleanse the capital of armed groups and called for official forces to secure the capital. [/restrict]
