Kidnapped Egyptian embassy staff released in Libya

The five Egyptian embassy staff kidnapped in Libya were all released on Monday, shortly after Egyptian authorities released Shaaban Hadiya, chairman of the Operation Room of Libya's Revolutionaries, Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdel Aaty stated in a phone-in on Al-Tahrir channel.

The spokesperson said Operation Room of Libya's Revolutionaries claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, and that Egypt is currently finalizing procedures for the staff’s return.

Hadiya’s release was confirmed by the Libyan group’s Facebook page in a statement saying that he is currently on his way to Tripoli.

The captors released three of the kidnapped staff late Sunday, and later released the remaining two early Monday following Hadiya’s release.

Last Friday, an administrative attaché, along with three other staff members, were been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Tripoli, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hadiya was arrested in Alexandria earlier on Friday, where he had travelled with his family for medical treatment. A statement by the Egyptian Interior Ministry on Sunday clarified that Hadiya was arrested because he had been illegally staying in the country despite the end of his residency. 

Mohamed Fayez Jibril, the Libyan ambassador to Egypt, had claimed that the kidnappers of the Egyptian diplomats were holding them in response to Hadiya’s arrest, according to state-run Al-Ahram.

A statement by the Interior Ministry Monday denied any link between Hadiya and the bombing of the Cairo Security Directorate, adding that he was arrested before the attack.