By Libya Herald reporters.
Tripoli, 4 April 2016:
A Misratan journalist kidnapped yesterday on his way to a press conference called by Faiez . . .[restrict]Serraj at Tripoli’s Bu Sitta naval base was this afternoon released. The family of Mohammed Mhaisen have since declined to make an comment.
Mhaisen’s had written yesterday morning on Facebook that he was on his way to the press conference. The family reported that his car was later found abandoned near a base of a Haithem Tajouri’s Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade. When relatives approached the brigade, they claimed they were told that Mhaisen had been released but then been picked up by militiamen belonging to Abdul Ghani Kikli (aka Ghneiwa). When this militia was in turn approached, this was reportedly denied.
Affairs appeared to become darker when a body was found today on the beach at Tajoura. However Mhaisen’s brother said that it could not be Mhaisen because he had spoken to him by mobile phone.
Mhaisen is said to be close to controversial Misratan militia leader Salah Badi.
As it happened Mhaisen need not have bothered to head to Serraj’s press conference called for 4pm yesterday. He should certainly not have posted his plans on social media, which may well have alerted his abductors. At Bu Sitta, 38 foreign and local journalists were kept standing around in the open for two hours without apology or explanation. Serraj was twice seen to hurry by without acknowledging the presence of the press pack.
When the media were finally allowed into a building to watch a meeting between Serraj and mayors from local councils, they were told it was only a photo opportunity. No questions were allowed. [/restrict]
