Egyptian embassy staff kidnapped in Libya

At least four Egyptian embassy staff have been kidnapped in Tripoli, the Libyan capital, according to statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement revealed that an administrative attaché, along with three other staff members, were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on Friday.

Mohamed Fayez Jibril, the Libyan ambassador to Egypt, stated that both countries are currently in contact in order resolve the issue, which comes after the arrest of Shaaban Hadiya, chairman of the Operation Room of Libya's Revolutionaries, in Alexandria on Friday, state-run Al-Ahram reported. 

One of the leaders of the group said Hadiya had travelled to Egypt with his family for medical treatment, and that security forces had arrested him after storming the location where he had been staying, Reuters reported.

According to Reuters, the source denied that the Egyptian diplomats were kidnapped by the group, and called on Cairo to release Hadiya.

Jibril, however, stated the Libyan government is currently in talks with the kidnappers of the Egyptian diplomats, who he claims are holding them in response to Hadiya’s arrest.

He called on the Egyptian authorities to clarify the reason behind Hadiya’s arrest, Al-Ahram reported.

Jibril maintained that there are elements working to tarnish Egypt’s relations with Libya.