New York, January 16, 2019--The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Libyan National Army to release journalist Ismail Bouzreeba al-Zway, who was detained December 20 in the eastern Libyan city of Ajdabiya, according to news reports, local press organizations, and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. Benghazi, Libya's second-largest city, is under control of the self-styled Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar, although CPJ could not determine what authority or group initially detained the journalist. Libya is split between rival governments led by the Libyan National Army in the east and the U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord based in Tripoli, Libya's capital. A spokesperson for the Libyan National Army did not respond to CPJ's emailed request for comment. Authorities in east Libya view Al-Nabaa with hostility due to the channel's criticism of the Libyan National Army, according to Ahmed.

Source: Libya Today January 16, 2019 22:07 UTC