By Libya Herald reporters.
Tripoli, 8 November 2015:
Two Serbian diplomats were abducted today to the west of Sabratha. There are unconfirmed reports . . .[restrict]that the Serbian ambassador, his family and their Libyan driver in a second vehicle escaped the incident, in which it is said shots were fired.
The foreign ministry in Belgrade confirmed this evening the seizure of communications officer Sladjana Stankovic and her driver Jovica Stepic. The ministry added that it was “doing all it can to get more information and secure the return of our citizens in a very complicated situation on the ground”. It made no mention of the ambassador Oliver Potezica being involved.
Serbian TV has claimed that Potezica was travelling in another vehicle with a Libya driver. Social media reports say the ambassador also had members of his family with him. They were able to escape the attack, in which shots were reportedly fired, injuring the driver. Potezica did not respond to attempts to contact him this evening.
Jamal Zubia, spokesman for the Khalifa Ghwell administration in Tripoli said that the two diplomats had been travelling on the coastal road without informing the Diplomatic Security Service. They were attacked near the Talil Tourist village outside Sabratha.
Serbia runs its Libyan mission from Tunis with diplomats commuting to the Ben Ashour embassy in Tripoli. [/restrict]
