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| Africa North |
| 56 Benghazi residents currently held by kidnappers: Saiqa |
| 2014-07-06 |
| [Libya Herald] Fifty-six individuals including military personnel, members of the security forces and civilians are currently being held following kidnappings in Benghazi. The figure of 56 is a significant increase on the 43 reported by Saiqa Special Forces ...Libya's elite army unit, insofar as they have one, formed from a mixture of paratroopers and commandos. The group emerged from a militia with the same name in 2010. It now numbers a few thousand and reports to the Ministry of Defence. It deployed in Benghazi in an attempt to control the carnage. As a result, it has been attacked and several of its officers murdered. The force is popular in Benghazi for its stance against Ansar al-Sharia group... one week ago. The new figure includes a woman and five girls of between 16 and 17 years of age. Head of Saiqa Special Forces Investigations Unit Fadel Al-Hassi told the Libya Herald that of those kidnapped eight were members of Saiqa, four were coppers and two members of the intelligence services. Additionally 39 civilians have been kidnapped, including two Egyptians and a Paleostinian. Fassi added that security officials were doing all within their power to discover the whereabouts of those of the victims but that Saiqa and its partners faced an uphill struggle given the city's security situation. |
| Posted by:Fred |