Kidnappings continue in Tripoli: head of shipping company reported seized

The CEO of Libya’s main shipping company, the General National Maritime Transport Company, is reported to have been kidnapped in Tripoli and a ransom of a million dinars demanded. Tahar Almaarfi was seized on Thursday.

Kidnappings show no sigh of abating in the capital. The dean of the faculty of economics at Tripoli University, Ahemd Bulasin was seized outside his office on the same day. His abduction, however, is thought to be political. He is believed to be opposed to Libya Dawn’s control of the capital.

There have been other political abductions.

The previous Thursday saw the kidnapping of the new mayor of the Tripoli suburb of Swani Ben Adem. Having been just sworn in and elected to the post earlier in the day, Shaban Swesi was seized by armed men who evidently disagreed with the choice. They were almost certainly emboldened by the rejection generally by those in power in Tripoli of ballot box results if they do not suit them.

Earlier this week, other political activists were seized in Fashloum, Zawiat Al-Dahmani, Ghut Shaal and Kashlaf ahead of today’s first anniversary of the Gharghour massacre.

Libya Dawn is reported to have said that it would not allow anyone to protest against it.
Source: Libya Herald