6 Turkish citizens detained in Libya now released: Ministry
Six Turks detained in Libya by forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar have been released, Turkey's foreign ministry spokesman says, a day after it warned the militia would become a "legitimate target" unless they were released immediately.
Turkey supports the internationally recognized government in Tripoli. Haftar's Libyan National Force (LNA) launched a campaign on April 4 to try and seize the Libyan capital, but has been pushed back by the Tripoli government's forces.
The foreign ministry spokesman said those released wanted to keep working rather than return to Turkey. State-owned Anadolu agency said they were sailors after Turkey's defense ministry denied reports that the detainees included military personnel.
The forces loyal to Haftar said they destroyed a Turkish drone parked at Tripoli's only working airport on Sunday and declared a "general mobilization" as tensions between Ankara and the eastern administration mounted.
Haftar and his backers say they are trying to free Tripoli from militias that they accuse of destabilizing Libya since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011. His administration cut all ties with Turkey on Friday, banning its flights and ships from eastern Libya.
Haftar's critics, including Turkey, accuse him of trying to seize power and deepening a conflict between factions based in the east and west of the sprawling North African country.
(Source: Reuters)
Turkish activists storm German-flagged ship that carried weapons for Israeli military
More than 50 countries press UN for arms embargo on Israel
PKK claims deadly attack on Turkey’s aerospace firm
Iran lauds Pakistani army’s strikes against terrorist hideouts along border
VIDEO | Netanyahu’s imaginary victories
UN expert slams ‘obscuring’ media coverage of Israeli violence in Amsterdam
Over 100 killed in fresh Israeli onslaughts on Gaza, Lebanon
Foreign presidential elections will not affect Iran: Parl. speaker
VIDEO | Beaten Democrats look warily at four more years of Trump
VIDEO | A look at Trump's past actions
US, UK warplanes pound Yemeni capital Sana’a, other regions
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
