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Tunisian consular workers freed 'in exchange for Libyan commander' Tunisian consular workers freed 'in exchange for Libyan commander'
(about 1 hour later)
Ten Tunisian diplomatic staff who were kidnapped by gunmen in Libya have been freed, the foreign minister says. Ten Tunisian diplomatic staff who were kidnapped in Libya a week ago have been freed and returned home.
Taieb Bakouch said all the staff were now back in Tunisia and the consulate had been closed. Foreign Minister Taieb Bakouch said the consulate had now been closed and urged all Tunisians to leave the country.
The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tunis says their release is being linked to a recent Tunisian court decision to deport a Libyan militia commander. He denied reports that the workers were freed in exchange for a Libyan militia commander.
Walid Kalib is a commander of one of the brigades in the "Libya Dawn" alliance which controls Tripoli. Walid Kalib, who leads a brigade in the "Libya Dawn" alliance which controls Tripoli, was recently arrested in Tunisia on terrorism charges.
Libya Dawn spokesman Jamal Zubia on Wednesday wrote on his Facebook page:Libya Dawn spokesman Jamal Zubia on Wednesday wrote on his Facebook page:
"The page of the Tunisian consulate will be turned and they will return to their families and the revolutionary hero Walid Kalib returns to his family,'' reports AP news agency."The page of the Tunisian consulate will be turned and they will return to their families and the revolutionary hero Walid Kalib returns to his family,'' reports AP news agency.
He was recently arrested in Tunisia on terrorism charges. In urging Tunisians to leave Libya, Mr Bakouch said "we cannot again be subject to any blackmail," according to the Reuters news agency.
After the workers' release, Mr Bakouch urged all Tunisians to leave Libya.
"We cannot again be subject to any blackmail," he said, according to the Reuters news agency.
However, he said that the decision to deport Mr Kalib had been taken by the courts, independently of his ministry.However, he said that the decision to deport Mr Kalib had been taken by the courts, independently of his ministry.
The 10 workers were abducted last week from the Tunisian consulate in the capital, Tripoli.
Why is Libya lawless?Why is Libya lawless?
Holed up in TobrukHoled up in Tobruk
Libya descended into chaos after the uprising that led to the overthrow of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.Libya descended into chaos after the uprising that led to the overthrow of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
There has been no central government since then, with different militia groups competing for power.There has been no central government since then, with different militia groups competing for power.
Most countries closed their embassies during the fighting that ensued, but Tunisia has recently sent consular staff back to Tripoli. Most countries closed their embassies during the fighting that ensued, but Tunisia recently sent consular staff back to Tripoli.
The UN is trying to negotiate a political settlement to the crisis in Libya, after insecurity in the capital forced Libya's internationally recognised parliament and government to relocate to the eastern city of Tobruk.The UN is trying to negotiate a political settlement to the crisis in Libya, after insecurity in the capital forced Libya's internationally recognised parliament and government to relocate to the eastern city of Tobruk.
Libya Dawn last year seized control of Tripoli and surrounding areas.Libya Dawn last year seized control of Tripoli and surrounding areas.