TV channel owner, ex-director freed
2013-03-08 20:48
Tripoli - The owner and former director of a private
Libyan television, who were seized by gunmen in a raid on the channel's
headquarters, were freed on Friday, the station said.
Unknown assailants stormed the building of Alassema TV on
Thursday, abducting the owner Jomaa Al-Osta and the former executive director
Nabil al-Shebani, as well as four members of staff, including journalists and
anchors.
Alassema announced their release on Friday.
"Liberation of Joma Al-Osta and Nabil al-Shebani,"
a brief message said. Osta's brother confirmed that the two men had been freed
by their captors.
"My brother and Nabil al-Shebani have been released.
Jomaa is now with us at home," Ibrahim Al-Osta told AFP.
The staff members, who were all released soon after
Thursday's abduction, said the kidnappers were angry about the editorial
policies of the TV station, which is known to be close to Libya's liberal
coalition that came ahead of Islamists in last July's legislative elections.
Mohammed al-Sharkassi, an anchor at Alassema TV who was
among those released, said the assailants "identified themselves as former
rebels”.
They objected, in particular, to a draft law that would
exclude from political life officials under the regime of former dictator
Moamer Kadhafi, who was ousted and then slain in the 2011 uprising.
The law has caused a stir among Libya's ruling elite as
it threatens to sideline senior political figures, including Mahmud Jibril, who
heads the National Forces Alliances coalition and was an architect of the 2011
revolt.
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders on Friday
condemned the attack and expressed deep concern about the fate of Osta and
Shebani, calling on the Libyan authorities to "take all necessary measures
to obtain their release”.
Libya's national assembly called on Thursday evening for
the interior ministry "to intervene immediately to release the prisoners”.
