Libyan political activist dies

2009-05-21 14:21

Amman - Libyan political activist Fathi al-Jahmi, who had publicly urged democracy in his country and criticised the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, died in a hospital in Jordan on Thursday, a medical official said.

"Jahmi died in the Arab Medical Centre in Amman at 09:00 (06:00 GMT) today of blood infection," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Jahmi, who was admitted to the hospital on May 6, had been "under intensive care and was being treated by a Jordanian cardiologist," said the official without elaborating.

Jordanian Information Minister Nabil Sharif had previously said Jahmi intended travelling to the United States once released from hospital and if he was granted a visa.

Human rights violations

In April, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters she had raised with Tripoli the issue of alleged human rights violations in Libya, including the case of Jahmi, who at the time was already seriously ill.

The activist had been detained since 2004 after publicly calling for democracy, criticising Gaddafi’s regime and meeting a foreign official.

Tripoli announced in March it had freed Jahmi "but he remained in detention at the Tripoli Medical Centre..." and was granted only sporadic visits by his family.

It was not clear when Jahmi finally left Libya or when he arrived in Jordan.

The US State Department earlier this month had welcomed Jahmi's medical treatment in Amman and described it as "a positive development".

- SAPA