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Freed Libyan PM arrives at government HQ

Libyan TV has shown Prime Minister Ali Zeidan arriving at the government offices hours after he was captured by a militia gang.

Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan
Libya's prime minister has been freed after spending several hours in the custody of armed militia. (AAP)

Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan arrived at government headquarters in Tripoli on Thursday shortly after he was freed from the captivity of militiamen who had held him for several hours.

Several government ministers and members of the General National Congress (GNC) - Libya's highest political authority - welcomed Zeidan at the gates of the compound as he got out of an armoured personnel carrier amid exceptional security measures.

The premier appeared in good health after his ordeal and waved to a waiting crowd of well-wishers.

He was to chair an extraordinary cabinet meeting in the presence of several GNC members and will address the nation later on Thursday to explain what happened.

Ministers had already met in his absence earlier in the day for an emergency session convened after his abduction from the Tripoli hotel where he lives by former rebel militiamen.

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The pre-dawn seizure of Zeidan came five days after US commandos embarrassed and angered Libya's government by capturing senior Al-Qaeda suspect Abu Anas al-Libi off the streets of Tripoli and whisking him away to a warship.


1 min read

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Source: AAP



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