First deputy of Libya’s High Council of State dies from coronavirus

By Mohammad Erteima

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) – The first deputy of Libya’s High Council of State, Muhammad Baqi, died on Saturday from the coronavirus.

"With deep sorrow, we mourn our colleague Muhammad Baqi, the first deputy of the High Council of State, who was known for his dedication and love to his country," council head Khaled al-Mishri said in a statement.

He offered “condolences to his bereaved family, relatives and all his colleagues in the High Council of State”.

Council spokesman Mohamed Naser said Baqi had died from COVID-19 complications.

Born in 1952 in Um al-Aranib town in southern Libya, Baqi completed his post graduate studies in the United States, where he got into contact with Libyan opposition groups to the former regime of strongman Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya in recent months witnessed a surge in COVID-19 infections. The country’s tally reached 217,434 cases, including 3,253 deaths and 182,785 recoveries.

Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara