Armed group frees officials abducted in central Libya

By Jihad Nasr

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) - Unidentified gunmen on Tuesday released four hostages -- including two police officers -- after having abducted them two days earlier in Libya’s central Jufra district.

Speaking via Facebook, Ismail al-Sharif, a member of Libya’s Tobruk-based parliament, confirmed that all four hostages had been released.

Earlier Tuesday, he said, the hostages were brought by the gunmen -- who apparently remain unidentified -- to the city of Sirte, where they were handed over to local military officials.

Al-Sharif also thanked the local authorities for helping to secure the hostages’ release.

On Sunday, an unidentified armed group abducted four individuals in Jufra, including a local judge and a prosecutor and two police officers.