The Libyan Ministry of Health on Sunday condemned the kidnapping of a group of doctors near the southwestern city of Zintan.
“The Ministry of Health condemns in the strongest terms the assault on the humanitarian medical convoy heading to Ghadames city and the disappearance of six national medical workers, who were among the convoy that aimed to help and ease the suffering to our people in the south,” a ministry statement said.
The ministry demanded the competent authorities, as well as tribal leaders of Zintan, to start investigation into the incident and work to release the kidnapped medical workers.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping that happened on Friday.
According to the Libyan National Human Rights Commission, the kidnappers demand the authorities release a militant leader detained in the capital Tripoli in exchange for the medical workers.
Libya has been suffering escalating violence and instability ever since the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.
