CAIRO — A media watchdog Friday urged Libyan authorities to immediately release a local journalist detained while covering recent anti-government protests in the capital Tripoli. Libyan radio journalist Sami al-Sharif was detained Sunday by men in military uniforms affiliated with the U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord, according to a statement released late Thursday by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. "Libyan authorities must immediately disclose whether they are holding journalist Sami al-Sharif and, if so, release him unconditionally," said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour. Interior Minister Fathi Bashaga acknowledged that a Tripoli-allied militia fired live ammunition at peaceful protesters and that an investigation was opened. London-based Amnesty International said in a Wednesday statement that at least six protesters were kidnapped by armed men and several others were wounded.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 28, 2020 09:22 UTC