By Saber Ayyub.
Tripoli, 17 July 2015:
Misrata has released 40 prisoners, but not it seems as a specific part of any reconciliation . . .[restrict]with rival towns. Though the authorities did not say so, it is likely to be a gesture to mark Eid Al-Fitr.
According to Colonel Sherif Arhuma, commander of Misrata’s military police, the prisoners, from Tripoli, Zliten, Tarhuna and Misrata itself were being freed because they had “proved their innocence”. It was unclear if there had been any trials which found them not guilty or if it had merely been decided that they had no case to answer.
Thirty two of the men had been held in Sakat prison with the remainer in Huda jail. With some of them looking a little dazed and carrying small holdalls, they were released to await transport back to their home towns.
The Misratan authorities did not say what crimes the prisoners were suspected to have committed. It is also unclear how long any of the men had been held. [/restrict]